Dawn

4 troops among 9 killed in Kashmir gunfight

SRINAGAR, Nov 9: Five suspected militants and four Indian soldiers were killed in a long gunbattle in occupied Kashmir, officials said on Friday. The militants and soldiers, including an army officer, were killed near the town of Patan, north of Srinagar, a police spokesman said.

He said the fighting had started on Tuesday evening when Indian troops were attacked by a group of militants.

“The attack sparked a gunbattle that lasted until Friday,” the spokesman said, adding that around a dozen private homes were destroyed during the fighting and six soldiers were injured.

Meanwhile, Indian troops have surrounded a hotel where at least two suspected militants barricaded themselves after attacking a police post, officials said. Residents reported gunfire throughout the night and Friday.

Police said at least two policemen had been hurt in the incident.—AFP


letter to Editor

Cut from the same clothIndia and Pakistan, both cut from the same cloth, have rich culture, heritage, custom and tradition. Both the governments of India and Pakistan, to further their peace process, should develop a good cultural relationship with each other. Imagine staging ‘Bharatanatyam’, a South Indian dance performance in Karachi and Sufi music concert in Chennai.

The Indian and Pakistan political leaders should aim at making both these countries a combined superpower so that the West shall not throw its weight around in our countries to achieve their ends.

K.PRADEEP

Chennai