Four soldiers of Pakistan Army have embraced martyrdom in unprovoked Indian firing along the Line of Control (LOC) in Jandrot-Kotli Sector, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued on Monday. 

According to ISPR, the troops were busy in line communication maintenance when they were fired upon and hit by a heavy mortar round by Indian forces.

Three Indian soldiers were also killed and a few others injured in the exchange of fire.

CALLING NUCLEAR BLUFF

On Friday, Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat said his forces were willing to carry out operations inside Pakistan despite the risk of a nuclear conflict, the Indian daily the Hindustan Times reported.

“If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff,” Rawat said at a press briefing.

The comment drew derision from Pakistan’s foreign minister who termed the statement “irresponsible” and an “invitation for nuclear encounter”.

“If that is what they desire, they are welcome to test our resolve. The general’s doubt would swiftly be removed,” Khwaja Asif said on Twitter.

Pakistan’s military has said 52 civilians were killed and 254 wounded by Indian shelling in the region last year, more than in all of the previous 14 years combined.