SRINAGAR, India: Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged gunfire and shelling along their highly militarized frontier in disputed Kashmir, killing an Indian border guard, officials said Thursday.
Authorities in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir said Pakistani soldiers fired mortars and machine guns at border posts in the southern Jammu area on Wednesday night, calling it “unprovoked.”
India’s Border Security Force said in a statement that its soldiers “befittingly responded” and that one of its border guards was killed.
The fighting ended early Thursday.
There was no immediate comment from Pakistan. Each side often accuses the other of starting border skirmishes in the Himalayan region, which both claim in its entirety.
Last month, two Indian border guards and three civilians were injured in fighting along the fronter with Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have a long history of bitter relations over Kashmir. They have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over their competing claims to the region. In the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir, militants have fought against Indian rule since 1989. In 2003, the two nations agreed on a cease-fire that has largely held despite regular skirmishes.
The nuclear-armed countries’ contended frontier includes a 740-kilometer (460-mile) rugged and mountainous stretch called the Line of Control that is guarded by their armies.
Both countries also have separate paramilitary border forces guarding their somewhat defined, lower-altitude 200-kilometer (125-mile) boundary separating Indian-administered Kashmir and the Pakistani province of Punjab.
In 2021, the two nations reaffirmed their 2003 cease-fire accord after months of near-daily fighting that killed scores on both sides in Kashmir.
India, Pakistan border guards trade fire along Kashmir frontier; one Indian soldier killed
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India, Pakistan border guards trade fire along Kashmir frontier; one Indian soldier killed
- Both countries have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over their competing claims to the disputed region
- In 2021, the two nations reaffirmed their 2003 cease-fire accord after months of near-daily fighting that killed scores
Pakistan delay call on T20 World Cup participation by a week
- Controversy erupted after India replaced Bangladesh with Scotland over Bangladesh’s decision to not play any matches in India
- Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday lambasted the ICC for its ‘double standards’ when it came to Bangladesh
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will finalize its participation in the Men’s International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup by Feb. 2, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The controversy over Pakistan’s participation erupted after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament following Bangladesh’s decision to not play any matches in India owing to security fears. Bangladesh had requested a venue outside India for their World Cup matches, amid tensions between the two countries.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tournament will be played from Feb. 7 to Mar. 8 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches being played across both countries and the final scheduled in Ahmedabad.
During a meeting in Islamabad, Naqvi briefed Sharif over the recent developments involving Bangladesh and the ICC.
“Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,” Naqvi said in a post on X.
“Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table,” he continued. “It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday.”
On Sunday, Naqvi lambasted the ICC for its “double standards” when it came to Bangladesh, pointing out that India and Pakistan were allowed to play against each other at neutral venues as per an earlier deal between both cricket boards and the ICC.
Earlier in January, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh’s cricketer Mustafizur Rahman due to political tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi since the ouster of former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, who later fled to India.
Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, one of the tournament’s co-hosts. If Pakistan decides to participate, the country will open their campaign against the Netherlands on Feb. 7 and will face defending champions India on Feb. 15 in a group-stage match in Colombo.
