INDIA-PAKISTAN tensions have erupted amid reports of clashes and “heavy shelling” in the disputed region of Kashmir.
By Bill Mcloughlin | Express (UK)
According to reports this evening, there has been heavy shelling in the region. It has not been confirmed whether there have been any casualties as of yet. The clashes are alleged to have taken place in the Poonch district of the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Within the Poonch district, the exchange of fire happened along the Line of Control – which separates the two states – in the Balakote sector.
According to the Kashmir Walla, Pakistani troops allegedly shelled Indian Army posts.
The Indian Army then retaliated leading to the clashes.
The region has been the epicentre of the dispute between both India and Pakistan.
On Tuesday morning, 15 houses were destroyed after police and paramilitary forces killed two alleged militants in the Kashmir Valley.
The raid occurred in the city of Srinagar which also saw a policeman and paramilitary trooper injured.
Earlier this month, further violence was reported in the town of Handawar in the region.
Two officers were killed in the town before three men of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed in a separate attack.
India has persistently accused Pakistan of supporting militants in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Last year, a bomb killed 40 Indian paramilitary police officers.
The attack was the deadliest on Indian forces in Kashmir since the insurgency against India’s partial rule began in 1989.
Following the militant attack, tensions sparked between the two countries as both states came close to all-out conflict.
Following the militant attack, India conducted airstrikes on what it termed as militant camps.
Pakistan retaliated with its attack on which led to an Indian fighter jet being downed.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by forces before being returned in a peace gesture.
Despite tensions de-escalating since the conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan could be defeated in 10 days if a conflict sparks once again.
He said: “Pakistan has already lost three wars.
“Our armed forces will not take more than 7-10 days to make Pakistan bite the dust.”
Last year Mr Modi revoked the special status of the region under Article 370 of the constitution.
Under this measure, the region was given partial autonomy in order to formulate its own laws and was a point whereby relations worsened.
(Except for the headlines, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)