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10 Pakistani troops killed
Indian forces repulse attack
Tribune News Service and agencies

JAMMU, Aug 24 — At least 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several wounded today when Indian troops repulsed an attack on a forward post in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said here.

The Indian troops fired on 30 to 40 Pakistani soldiers who had sneaked into Indian territory to raid the post in the Doda area around 4 a.m.

Pakistan suffered at least 10 casualties while several were wounded, the spokesman said, adding that the enemy troops fled leaving behind two colleagues.

The intruders were provided firing cover by Pakistani troops from across the border. The Indian soldiers retaliated and a heavy exchange of fire was still on. Reports said one Indian troop was killed in the exchange of fire.

Official sources said Pakistani troops also fired scores of mortar shells in the Pallanwala area and resorted to heavy firing in Nowshehra. There was no casualty on the Indian side.

The Indian troops retaliated and damaged more than four Pak bunkers.

SRINAGAR: The security forces have shot dead 14 militants in encounters, smashed several militant hideouts and seized a big cache of arms and explosives, including 50 kg of RDX, but lost two of their personnel in Jammu and Kashmir since Wednesday, an official spokesman said here on Thursday.

Five militants and two security personnel were killed in a four-day-long operation at Saktoor in the Gurez sector of Baramula district in north Kashmir, he said.

Five Army jawans were injured when militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting an Army convoy in north Kashmir on Thursday, defence sources said.

A report from Jammu said the police achieved a major success when the men of the Special Task Force eliminated six hardcore militants belonging to Jash-e-Mohammad (Army of the Prophet) near Chakla Bridge in Poonch. The police said STF men spotted a group of militants and ordered them to halt. The militants opened fire wounding three policemen. The STF men retaliated killing six rebels on the spot. Large quantities of arms and ammunition were seized from them.

In another incident troops killed two militants in the Pir Panjal belt of Doda district. Reports said that men of the Army’s Delta Force cordoned off a forest belt and directed the militants, hiding there to surrender. The militants opened fire which was retaliated killing two rebels on the spot. Others are said to have escaped. Search operations have been launched in the area.

One Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, identified as Abu Hilal of Afghanistan, was shot dead in an encounter near the Line of Control.

India expels Pak official
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 — India today expelled an official of the Pakistan High Commission here for his involvement in espionage activities. The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Jalil Gillani was called to the Ministry of External Affairs and told that Mr Malik Muhammad Rafique was found indulging in activities incompatible with his official status, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said.