Pakistani troops killed five Indian soldiers and injured a large number of others in a clash early Saturday along the disputed Kashmir border, the military said.
The fighting erupted when Indian troops attacked a forward Pakistani post in Khanjar area of Bhimber sector, the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said in a statement.
The Indian attack, which was "heavily supported" by artillery, mortar and small arms fire, was repulsed, it said, adding that three Pakistani soldiers suffered injuries.
"Pakistani soldiers defended their post successfully and compelled the enemy to retreat with at least five soldiers dead and a large number injured," the ISPR said.
Enemy helicopters were seen evacuating their injured, the statement said.
Earlier an Indian army official said upto 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed Saturday after Indian troops repulsed a Pakistani raid in the southern district of Rajouri, which is situated opposite Bhimber.
Speaking in Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, Major Sanjay Kapoor said only one Indian soldier was injured in the clash.
"Pakistani troops opened indiscriminate fire in the morning. We fired back and repulsed them but we think between 10 to 12 of their men have died," he said.
Indian Major General P.P.S Bindra told AFP the Pakistani army had collected the bodies of the dead soldiers.
India holds two-thirds of Kashmir and Pakistan the remainder of the divided Himalayan state. The row over Kashmir has caused two of the three wars between the South Asian neighbors since their independence in 1947 -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
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