India Says Pakistani Troops Killed 5 Indian Soldiers Near Cease-Fire Line In Kashmir

Five Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops on Monday night during an attack on an Indian military post in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, reports said.

According to Associated Press, India's military termed the incident a "gross violation" of the 2003 cease-fire agreement between India and Pakistan. But, sporadic attacks such as the one on Monday are not uncommon, with both countries blaming each other for initiating an attack, the AP report said.

"Pakistani troops simply attacked the Indian post, violating the cease-fire and they killed five of our soldiers," a senior army official in Indian-administered Kashmir told AFP, on condition of anonymity.

Omar Abdullah, Kashmir's chief minister, tweeted about the incident on Tuesday morning, saying such attacks will not help Pakistan repair ties with India.

"Was briefed early this morning about news that 5 of our soldiers had been killed on the LOC (Line of Control). My heartfelt condolences to their next of kin," Abdullah tweeted. "These incidents don't help efforts to normalise or even improve relations with Pak & call in to question the Pak Govt's recent overtures."

Monday’s attack comes just days after Pakistan said that it was committed to improving relations with neighboring countries, including India.

Attempts by the two countries to improve ties -- after Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a series of attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 -- have been marred by various clashes along the LoC. While India blames Pakistan for encouraging militant activity inside its borders, Pakistan maintains that it offers only moral support to the people of Kashmir, Reuters reported.

“This is an extremely unfortunate incident,” R.P.N. Singh, a minister of state in the Ministry of Home Affairs, told Reuters. “If Pakistan wants to have better relations with India this is not the way."