Pakistani troopers kill 5 India soldiers

Pakistani troops have killed five Indian soldiers in an attack along the line of control in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior Indian official says.

Pakistani troopers attacked an Indian military post located in Poonch area of Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday, according to Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah.

“Was briefed early this morning about news that 5 of our soldiers had been killed on the LOC. My heartfelt condolences to their next of kin,” said Abdullah.

Kashmir lies at the heart of more than 60 years of hostility between India and Pakistan. Both neighbors claim the region in full but have partial control over it.

The recent attack came as India and Pakistan were gearing up to reopen peace talks, which had been stalled in January, after an Indian soldier was beheaded in an attack on the line of control.

According to the officials, Islamabad has proposed dates for the resumption of negotiations, while New Delhi has been studying the Pakistani offer.

“This is an extremely unfortunate incident. If Pakistan wants to have better relations with India this is not the way,” said Indian Junior Home Minister Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh, in reference to the latest attack on the LOC.

The line of control is a de facto frontier dividing Kashmir into Indian- and Pakistani- controlled parts.