Photo by CIA shows Kashmir region via Wikimedia Commons
Nine civilians were killed and several injured as India targeted a passenger bus with heavy shelling in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the most dangerous South Asian escalation since 2003.
Three Pakistani soldiers and another civilian also died when troops from both sides of the Line of Control exchanged fire, bringing the total loss of lives to 13.
“The passenger bus was attacked by Indian shelling at 8:30 in the morning [03:30 GMT], resulting in the death of nine people onboard,” Deputy Police Commissioner of the Neelum Valley Sardar Abdul Waheed said.
“The ambulance heading to the site came under attack as well, and locals arranged transportation for those injured, taking them to the hospital in private cars.”
According to Police, the bus was heading towards Muzaffarabad from Kel when it came under attack.
Muzamal Brandy, who was driving behind the bus when it came under fire, said a “rain of bullets” hit the vehicle before a rocket slammed into it.
The incident comes a day after India said three of its soldiers had been killed by Pakistani troops and threatened “retribution”.
Pakistan and India have been trading fire recently in the disputed Himalayan region, which, according to the United Nations is one of the oldest unresolved conflicts on its agenda.
Divided between the two nuclear-armed neighbours by the Line of Control and claimed by both in its entirety, Kashmir is once again turning into a flashpoint with tensions climbing since this summer, when Indian forces killed and blinded hundreds of Kashmirid protesting Indian rule.
