Pakistani soldier killed by Indian cross-border firing in Battal sector

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

ISLAMABAD: A soldier of the Pakistan Army was killed on Tuesday during firing by Indian forces across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rawalakot's Battal sector.

An Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman said that 'Pakistani troops responded befittingly to unprovoked firing by Indian forces'.

The statement further said that the 20-year-old soldier, identified as Sepoy Shams, was a resident of village Shanglot in Gopis Tehsil of Gilgit Baltistan's Ghizer district.

Read: India violates LoC ceasefire despite recent promises of peace: ISPR

The latest bout of border skirmish follows a bi-annual meeting between commanders of Pakistan's Rangers and India's Border Security Force, in which the two sides had agreed to stop border violations along the LoC, check smuggling and ensure expeditious repatriation of those who inadvertently cross borders.

Pakistan Rangers Director General Major General Umar Farooq Burki returned via Wagha after a three-day bi-annual meeting with his Indian counterpart. These talks are a regular feature and are held alternately in Pakistan and India.

Ceasefire violations along the Working Boundary were discussed at length and it was agreed that all necessary measures will be ensured to avoid such incidents in the future to save the lives of innocent civilians.

Also read: Pakistan Rangers, Indian BSF agree to halt ceasefire violations

Earlier, it was reported by Dawn that 26 Pakistanis had been killed in over 200 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary over the past three months.

The next bi-annual meeting will be held in 2016 in Pakistan.

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Rahul

Sep 15, 2015 05:12pm

RIP

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Hope

Sep 15, 2015 05:14pm

Is there any hope of cease fire ?

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Kamal

Sep 15, 2015 05:16pm

Such a shame for both the countries...

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Saba sss

Sep 15, 2015 05:17pm

Inna Lillah he Wa Inna Alehe Rajiooon... If India wants war then we are waiting for what...

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Amjad

Sep 15, 2015 05:18pm

Never ending story. When will this stop?

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Zak

Sep 15, 2015 05:18pm

Nawaz has tapes on his mouth

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Muqaddam Khan

Sep 15, 2015 05:18pm

The world should know about the bellicosity and hegemony of of India. The war would not resolve Pakistan India issues but it gives birth to several problems. We should learn from history.

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Anil Pinnala

Sep 15, 2015 05:19pm

Really sad. Hope his family members have enough strength to bear this pain.

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Parvez

Sep 15, 2015 05:31pm

India's propaganda machine is far superior to Pakistan's ..allowing them to commit blatant atrocities and provoke conflict.

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raja hindustani

Sep 15, 2015 05:31pm

While rest of world are trying to move forward; we (India & Pakistan) are here busy in killing each other. Our Future generation will NOT going to forgive us. Pakistan leadership & Military need Kashmir issue alive for their own benefit and Indian leadership need Kashmir issue alive to divert its people attention from main issues. Thousands of people are killed in last 50 yrs in 3 wars but status quo on Kashmir has not been changed from both end. Pakistan should now realize that it is impossible to change status quo on kashmir without consent of India. Lets make peace and forget kashmir issue atleast for 20 yrs.

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Amjad

Sep 15, 2015 05:38pm

@Hope No. There is too much profit for deep state to allow cease fire.

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Sep 15, 2015 05:38pm

They will not understand the words,we must retaliate with full force.

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Stanley

Sep 15, 2015 05:39pm

@raja hindustani Raj I cimpletely agree with you Perhaps both india and pakistan must talk Peace now Stop this words of war..

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Shujaat Hasan

Sep 15, 2015 05:40pm

Mr Raj. No peace is possible without solving this core issue. How so called fairly you started your argument and then at last very intelligently you finally blamed Pakistan.

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Valar Morghulis

Sep 15, 2015 05:42pm

India is asking for it again through cowardly acts....and it's unfortunate. Pakistan should be very vigilant instead of acting in haste. India wants conflict to hurt CPEC, these are all linked to that.

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Gourishankar

Sep 15, 2015 05:42pm

The First World War was a calamity for Germany and Europe. The Second World War was an even bigger calamity for Germany and Europe. But without both World Wars there would have been no European Union (EU) today. After both wars Europe was exhausted and devastated. The difference was that the second major internecine war in Europe in a generation led to a profound change in political thinking, at least in Western Europe, about how states should conduct their relations. It took them two World Wars to realize the futility of jingoism and hypernationalism. Instead of pinpointing mistakes and killing the soldiers, India and Pakistan should strive together to get rid of poverty and other social evils. Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honoring of differences, not simply in the enjoyment of similarities.

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True Speaking

Sep 15, 2015 05:45pm

Rest in Peace.. :(

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Ahmed

Sep 15, 2015 05:48pm

Is there no respect for the lives of their own soldiers between the Indian and Pakistani militaries? If there is no war going on, why do they engage in cross-border firing as if exchanging bullets is a game or achieves anything?

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Khurram Jadoon

Sep 15, 2015 05:49pm

@raja hindustani there's no peace without peace in Kashmir. Lets resolve Kashmir first and rest will be resolved swiftly and smoothly. There's no other option for peace.

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Robert

Sep 15, 2015 05:52pm

"The next annual meeting will be held in 2016 in Pakistan". For what ? People on both sides of the border will keep dying of border firings no matter how many meetings you continue to have in India or Pakistan. It is not the meetings but the determination of the two governments -- India and Pakistan -- to live in peace that matters.

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seemab khan

Sep 15, 2015 05:52pm

We approached Indians on their PM Oath taking ceremony.. We approached them Again in SAARC conference.. We were moving to their country to talk peace..when they cancelled it.. We again approached them on their ground in ufa talks... We were again going to their country to talk peace.. when they put conditions on us... Now what are we waiting for if peace initiatives have been shunned every time..? Hope the two shariffs make some sense..PM shariff more Vocal approach not mute one...and Gen Sharif a more practical approach instead of a threatning one..

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Rik

Sep 15, 2015 05:53pm

To all Pakistani brothers and sisters- it is very unfortunate to see this. My condolences. please google how many indian jeans were killed in line of duty while combating terrorism emanating from across the border in Kashmir in just last 10 days...... Please think.

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Truth hurts

Sep 15, 2015 06:07pm

@seemab khan u approach with kashmir mantra together with other issues...drop kashmir obsession and see the change

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shez

Sep 15, 2015 06:08pm

Inna Lillah he Wa Inna Alehe Rajiooon

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Isra

Sep 15, 2015 06:18pm

Shameful and cavourdly act.

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Neo

Sep 15, 2015 06:30pm

@Muqaddam Khan: Ok so what about Indian Soldiers and Civilians getting killed by your cross firing everyday?????? Your media says India started it and our media says Pakistan started all this, now who to believe????????????

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Navneet Sharma

Sep 15, 2015 06:36pm

2 Days back..There was a news in India that 1 BSF Officer was killed in Pakistani Shelling...People from both countries should come forward to stop this madness

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Ram

Sep 15, 2015 06:40pm

Please respect a lost a soul and let's not indulge in usual rhetoric of blaming each other as Indian I am ashamed of this act and hope we achieve peace

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JHK

Sep 15, 2015 06:44pm

@raja hindustani -- you can make peace without forgeting K issue also. If we forget about the politics for next 20 years.

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Zuhaib

Sep 15, 2015 06:46pm

yes keep this jingoism alive at the expense of innocent lives to feed the monsters..!!

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Anton

Sep 15, 2015 06:52pm

@Gourishankar Well said You are cousins and eventually you will have to sit down and agree to live peacefully as neighbours

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Zak

Sep 15, 2015 06:57pm

@raja hindustani you are pathetic. Who are you to decide for the Kashmiris. You are not even of their culture or nation. Would you accept the U.S. deciding the fate of your country. Kashmir belongs to kashmiris who are human beings and their needless blood has been spilt by India. India should accept the UN kashmir plebiscite and end the conflict.

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lafanga

Sep 15, 2015 07:00pm

RIP.

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Bharat Sahu

Sep 15, 2015 07:00pm

Both the countries blaming each other for ceasefire violation. People are being deceived. Whom to believe? Both armed forces and civilians losing their lives. Stop such politics. People do not want war. People should come forward to find the truth. According to Pakistani media 'India violates ceasefire' while Indian media say, 'Pakistan violates ceasefire' leaving civilians in dilemma.

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Tania

Sep 15, 2015 07:07pm

Pakistan, India and Kashmir need to sit and resolve the Kashmir issue once and for all. We are not asking to make Kashmir part of Pakistan. We can barely handle our own country. But the Kashmiris have a right to decide their own fate be it with Pakistan, India or an independent state!

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Cyrus

Sep 15, 2015 07:09pm

@Hope .... Of course. These Indian soldiers are not obeying orders. Modi is not in control of the Indian army. They should be court marshaled.

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Dr. Masood

Sep 15, 2015 07:12pm

@Neo There's only 'one' way to settle this once and for all.............

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amit

Sep 15, 2015 07:13pm

@Khurram Jadoon You are right there will be no peace. By the way instead of blaming each other let the elected officials and only elected officials short out the differences. I guaranty you peace will will prevail in no time. If the elected officials are not calling the shots then how can you be sure that wish of the people are full filled. If anyone thinks that they represent the wish of the people then why don't they run for election get elected and then call the shots. Something is obviously wrong. In India shots are called by elected officials only and we have independent judiciary system.

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Honey Badger

Sep 15, 2015 07:33pm

Stan their & keep calling flag meeting..Speak with them the language & the only language they understand

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Cyrus

Sep 15, 2015 07:36pm

@Gourishankar ... Very well written. Your historical view is correct. However, poverty and social injustice can only be corrected by wars. Western Europe was extremely over populated before World War I and most of the population was poor or hard pressed working class. Europe was still run by the landowning nobility. A good war would eliminate populations. Soldiers came back angry in Germany, England and France. In Russia the surfs rose with the army and navy and destroyed the monarchy. The Ottoman Empire fell losing all it's foreign possessions due to the corruption of the Sultan and his brother. In Western Europe the industrialists were in business with the nobility. When the nobility was discredited across Europe after the war the industrialists took over the Western world, except in Russia. The Japanese industrial machine, for a time, lorded over most of Asia. Countries like Turkey, with little industry, were left in the dust. War cures overpopulation.

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Neutral Indian

Sep 15, 2015 07:50pm

@Dr. Masood If you are suggesting the 'one' option is Mutually assured Destruction, then good luck to you.

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Sarwar, USA

Sep 15, 2015 07:55pm

Modi wants to divert attention from home issues and retaliate for Pakistani flags hosted by Kashmiris.

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Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA)

Sep 15, 2015 08:04pm

@Sarwar, USA : From the Indian perspective, Pakistan is doing this to internationalize the Kashmir issue before the UN session. There are two sides to every story my friend.

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Sep 15, 2015 08:08pm

@raja hindustani Agree. Let us have good trade and cultural relation between two countries.

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anony

Sep 15, 2015 08:20pm

Don't trust these indians.

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Prasad

Sep 15, 2015 08:27pm

RIP... one more needless death to satisfy the military-political agenda...

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Ady

Sep 15, 2015 08:36pm

Seems Rangers meeting was totally waste of time! India need some very strong response they totally deaf of dialogues so don't waste time in dialogues just respond Robustly.

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iftikhar bhutt

Sep 15, 2015 08:46pm

@Zak Pakistan should first resolve its basic issues of electricity nandi pur and too much corruption then talk about kashmir issue

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Enemy

Sep 15, 2015 08:53pm

You will be surprised to know even indians are too human beings. You should also feel their pain .

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 15, 2015 09:00pm

What a great tragedy? In fact the modi and his administration has gone crazy and wild since day one.

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Valar Morghulis

Sep 15, 2015 09:09pm

@Enemy You'll be surprised to know even Kashmiris are too human beings. You should also feel their pain. But your army is numb to their agony and continue atrocities against them for past 68 years. What have you achieved? Pakistan still lives in their heart whether they show it in demonstrations or post Cricket match celebrations.

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vijay

Sep 15, 2015 09:09pm

@Zak : Where is the Un mandated Kashmir of 1947. Only in your dreams. Even the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the Kashmir of 1947 does not exist anymore. I agree that Kashmiris(including the Pandits) are suffering.

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imran ghori

Sep 15, 2015 09:10pm

Waiting for response from pak army,

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Ram(The beautiful)

Sep 15, 2015 09:24pm

God bless the family to over their lose of their loved one. Condolences from India. Hope such incidents don't happen in future. At the end these poor soldiers lose their lives, they are pawns in the great power games played between India and Pakistan.

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Ahmed Rashid

Sep 15, 2015 09:34pm

May his soul rest in peace. This issue can never be resolved, practically speaking. Even if some decision is made, it will lead to more wars.

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Valar Morgulis

Sep 15, 2015 09:42pm

@vijay Then why ALWAYS backing away from plebiscite? Invite Pundits also to participate and let's see what consensus develops. Bottom line: Kashmiris should be given right to self determination. But when you have 7 million Army present in the valley committing atrocities and human rights violations, it easily put intentions into suspicion.

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Rahul

Sep 15, 2015 09:56pm

Why not we unite again..I know it sounds funny but just imagine what a great nation it would be..United States Of India and Pakistan

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auginpk

Sep 15, 2015 10:27pm

It takes lot of efforts to groom a human being. Right from his conception the efforts of his parents, family and society starts. Though the grooming gives both pain and pleasure, the person the gift of nature and god to this earth. Mindless killing of the person in whom god, nature, society & family have invested so heavily is injustice to gods creation, especially when every human being is unique creation of god. I hope we will not see the human tragedy which has already been witnessed and lived by other unfortunate people. May god bless us all.

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Real

Sep 15, 2015 10:27pm

i think leadership should be given to youth of both countries i am hundred pc sure that Kashmir issue will be resolved because youth wants development that means no fight over K.

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Chris Harrison

Sep 15, 2015 10:35pm

@Shujaat Hasan I agree with you

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Amit

Sep 15, 2015 11:27pm

When will these two neighbor start living peacefully

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Anil Pinnala

Sep 15, 2015 11:33pm

@Saba sss Frankly, no common man wants war. Here, we are struggling to avoid war. Not starting one.

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Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA)

Sep 16, 2015 12:02am

@auginpk : good one!

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bboy

Sep 16, 2015 12:33am

Pakistan and Indians are related by blood. They should stop immediately. We don't need any other nations to tell us that.

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RFAK

Sep 16, 2015 02:25am

@Valar Morgulis Indian does not have a 7 million army.

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adnan

Sep 16, 2015 02:42am

Both countries have to forget Kashmir and move forward otherwise the fight will continue and keep both countries poor.

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kuttathi

Sep 16, 2015 04:38am

@Rahul It is good that we are two different countris now.But we could live like Australia - Newzealand or US- Canada.

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Sheeda

Sep 16, 2015 08:33am

Politics aside. Someone's son died! RIP kid!

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Mohammed Baig

Sep 16, 2015 02:57pm

Foolish things happening on both sides of the border. I do not understand what would this developments lead to?

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Dr. Muhammad Zafar Ahmed

Sep 16, 2015 09:19pm

. . . . and the misery continues? But for what reasons I honestly thought that the meetings between the two border platoons would result in cease fire i mean come on people on both sides want peace and tranquility

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Shiraj

Sep 17, 2015 01:16am

@Shujaat Hasan In your opinion, how Kashmir issue should be resolved? If both both countries are stuck to their guns to claim whole Kashmir than it will never resolved. If both countries do not want to work on give and take than it will never resolved. some where compromise has to be made to make peace.

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Aamir

Sep 17, 2015 09:07am

@raja hindustani why forget kashmir ?why not solve this problem for evr and for lasting peace

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rehan

Sep 17, 2015 02:52pm

@raja hindustani Sure , let us forget about the three eastern rivers that enter Pakistan through Kashmir as well. Never going to happen, sorry.

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Dr yashfaa rao

Sep 17, 2015 09:39pm

RIP

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