ISPR denies casualties sustained in LoC firing by India

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday denied the Indian claim that Pakistani forces suffered casualties in firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Shakargarh sector.

“Indian claim of hitting or killing any Pakistani soldier or Ranger with firing at anytime today at LoC is absolutely false,” said the statement released from the armed forces media wing.

Earlier today, India's Border Security Force (BSF) claimed they shot dead seven Pakistani soldiers in retaliation to a ceasefire violation on the disputed Kashmir border.

BSF alleged Pakistan Rangers targeted Indian positions with sniper fire early Friday, following a failed attempt by militants overnight to enter the Indian side in Hira Nagar near the main city of Jammu in India-held Kashmir.

Read: Pakistan captures one Indian soldier at LoC, several others killed

“During intermittent firing of small arms and area weapons one militant and seven Rangers were shot dead,” said the BSF in a press statement.

BSF spokesman Shubhendu Bhardwaj while talking to AFP claimed they had launched an “aggressive offensive” after one of their soldiers was critically injured by sniper fire from across the border.

“There was an infiltration attempt and sniper fire. We retaliated. The bodies are on the other side of the border,” said Bhardwaj.

Soaring tensions

The Indian prime minister stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri army base attack.

Hours after the attack occurred, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed Pakistan a 'terrorist state'. India also accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack.

The Uri attack occurred days before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was set to address the United Nations General Assembly regarding Indian human rights violations in held Kashmir.

Following the attack, India claimed to have conducted a cross-border 'surgical strike' against 'launch pads of terror' in Azad Jammu and Kashmir ─ a claim Pakistan has strongly rejected.

Pakistan maintains India is attempting to divert the world's attention away from 'atrocities' committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.

Read more: What pellet guns have done to protesters in Kashmir

Pakistan and India have locked horns over the Kashmir issue since Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July.