2011 India–Pakistan border skirmish

2011 India–Pakistan border shooting Date 30 August 2011 – 1 September 2011 Location Line of Control (LOC) Belligerents  India  Pakistan Commanders and leaders Vijay Kumar Singh Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Casualties and losses 5 killed[1] 3 killed

The 2011 India–Pakistan border shooting incident took place between 30 August and 1 September 2011 across the Line of Control in Kupwara District/Neelam Valley resulting in five Indian soldiers and three Pakistani soldiers being killed. Both countries gave different accounts of the incident, each accusing the other of initiating the hostilities.^[2][3]

Incident

Pakistani sources claimed that the fighting started when Indian border security forces opened fire on a Pakistani checkpoint based on the Line of Control in the Neelam Valley of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.^[3] The Inter Services Public Relations spokesman Major General Athar Abbas confirmed the incident had taken place while talking to BBC Urdu. Abbas dubbed the attack as unprovoked and said the attack had been protested with India during a border meeting.^[3] He claimed that three soldiers were moving from one post to another when they got lost during bad weather and after a 24-hour search, their bodies were recovered.^[4]

Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Brar, spokesman for the Indian Army, claimed that the incident started when Pakistan made an infiltration bid in the Keran Sector of Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (30 August 2011) which was foiled by Indian security forces. He claimed that on Wednesday (31 August 2011) night, at around 20:00 hours, an Indian border post was fired on by Pakistani troops. Following the first shots, both sides engaged in a firefight, with the Indians claiming that heavy mortars and machine guns were used, and that the shooting lasted for about 50 minutes. Accusing Pakistan of two ceasefire violations in the space of fifteen hours, India claimed that the exchange of fire continued at 1100 hours the following day after a brief lull.^[2][4][5]

Casualties

India confirmed the death of five soldiers during the incident.^[1] Pakistan announced that three soldiers of the irregular Mujahid Battalion were also killed.

See also

• 2013 India–Pakistan border skirmishes
• 2014 India–Pakistan border skirmishes

References

1. "In 2011 five security men were martyred, according to the Indian Sources.". IBN Live.
2. "Kashmir border deaths spark India and Pakistan row". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
3. "LoC: Three Pakistani soldiers died in attack by Indian forces". The Express Tribune. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
4. "Three Pakistan soldiers dead in India border firing". AFP. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
5. "Pak troops violate ceasefire twice, three soldiers killed". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 September 2011.