Indian troops kill 2 civilians, soldier in Kashmir: Pakistan army

Pakistan says at least two civilians and a soldier have been killed as Indian forces opened fire on a village in the Islamabad-administered side of disputed Kashmir.
The Pakistani army said in a statement on Saturday that Indian troops targeted civilians from across the border with heavy weapons a day earlier.
The incident killed two villagers and a soldier, said the statement, adding that three soldiers were wounded while evacuating the village that came under attack.
According to the statement, Pakistani troops gave a “befitting response” to India after coming under attack.
India has not reacted to the statement yet.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both since the two partitioned and gained independence from Britain in 1947. The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed territory.
New Delhi regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants and allowing them across the restive frontier in an attempt to launch attacks on Indian forces.
Pakistan, however, strongly denies the allegation and accuses India of committing “war crimes” in Kashmir and “exporting terror” to Pakistan.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that was reached in November 2003, sporadic skirmishes continue in the region. The cross-border clashes intensified following a spike in protests in the region last year which came after a senior militant commander was killed in the area.
People in the Muslim-majority Kashmir have for years demanded independence or a merger with Pakistan. India has ignored the call and continues to police the region with a 500,000-strong military force. About 70,000 people have been killed in India’s crackdown in Kashmir since 1989.