Another Pak bid on Siachen
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 4 — Alert Indian soldiers foiled fresh attempts by Pakistan to capture strategic military posts at the Siachen glacier and killed two Pakistani soldiers, a defence statement said.

"Pakistan launched a heavy attack on November 3 to capture one of the soldiers of the strategic pass in the northern part of the Siachen glacier," the statement said.

Earlier Pakistan had made two attempts to capture the same position. In a change of tactics, Pakistan first launched a probing action in southern part of the glacier. This attack was preceded by a heavy mortar fire for 20 minutes. As the fire stopped three to four Pakistani soldiers were seen approaching to the post at 1855 hours. This attack was repulsed with one casualty to Pakistani troops, the statement added.

According to the Defence spokesman, the probing action was followed by an attack in the northern part of the glacier, this time about 10 to 12 Pakistani soldiers attempted to attack the soldier of the pass. The vigilant sentry alerted the post and when the Pakistani troops were at a distance of 500 metre from the post they were engaged by machine gunfire and mortar fire, one Pakistani soldier died and the remaining fled. Pakistani troops immediately reacted with a mortar fire.

Reports said that after two hours Pakistani troops, around 30, were observed moving towards the post. After they alighted from vehicles they were engaged in an artillery fire.

This attempt, the seventh in the past 15 days, was the heaviest.

"Pakistan has suffered 13 casualties, as observed by our troops so far in these attempts," the statement said.

At least three civilians were killed and 20 wounded when Pakistani troops fired in the Tangdhar sector on Tuesday.

Elsewhere five militants were killed in encounters with security forces in Kashmir since last evening, a police spokesman said.

He said in the Katawari-Nar forest area in Kupwara district three foreign militants were killed.

Security forces in the Yadal-Gali forest areas in Kupwara district were fired upon. In the ensuing encounter one foreign mercenary was killed, the police said.

In an encounter with security forces in the Baila Bala area of Poonch district one militant was killed by security forces.