Three Pakistani Soldiers Killed Across Line of Control

At least three Pakistani soldiers have been killed by Indian forces at the Line of Control next to the Pakistani-occupied area of Kashmir, says Pakistan's military.

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The soldiers, Subedar Mohammad Riaz, Sepoy Shahid Mansib, and Lance Havaldar Aziz Azizulla were killed, according to the military's media, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), reports Geo Tv.

"Three brave son of soil laid their lives on the line of duty. Indian troops resorted to unprovoked fire in Rakhchakri … along the Line of Control (LoC)," where the military members were slain, the ISPR said.

Another soldier was wounded, said Pakistani authorities.

The measure takes place days before India's national elections April 11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are making national security their number one campaign issue ahead of the vote, accusing Congress of being weak on so-called 'terrorism.'

Since mid-February, tensions have been high between the two nations that individually lay claim over parts of Kashmir. Indian forces were attacked by a suicide bomber that killed at least 40 people within Indian-administered Kashmir. India blames the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and is pressuring Pakistan to seal off dozens of mosques and schools run by the Islamic group.

Pakistan and India control separate portions of Kashmir that is rich in natural resources, including water.

In late February, for the first time since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, India carried out an aerial bombing over the Line of Control into Pakistan-administered Kashmir in hopes of taking down members of JeM.

In addition an elderly man was killed and five others wounded by Indian shelling in the Nezapir area of Pakistan-administered Kashmir Monday morning, officials there said.

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Pakistan's military claims that last year saw an increase in civilian killings by Indian forces at the LoC, saying at least 55 people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir were killed and more than 300 others were wounded.

India says Pakistani 14 security personnel were murdered during the same time frame.

According to local media, the Pakistani army is reporting “casualties” on the Indian side after their three soldiers were killed.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted about India’s crossing the LoC.

"Indian unprovoked aggression along LoC is condemned and is being effectively responded," the government official said.