2011 India–Pakistan border shooting

The 2011 India–Pakistan border shooting incident took place between 30 August (Tuesday) and 1 September 2011 (Thursday) across the Line of Control in Kupwara District/Neelam Valley resulting in one Indian soldier and three Pakistani soldiers being killed. Both countries gave different accounts of the incident, each accusing the other of initiating the hostilities.

Incident
Pakistani sources claimed that the fighting started when Indian border security forces opened fire on a Pakistani checkpoint based on the Line of Control in the Neelam Valley of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The Inter Services Public Relations spokesman Major General Athar Abbas confirmed the incident had taken place while talking to BBC Urdu. Abbas dubbed the attack as unprovoked and said the attack had been protested with India during a border meeting. He claimed that three soldiers were moving from one post to another when they got lost during bad weather and after a 24-hour search, their bodies were recovered.

Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Brar, spokesman for the Indian Army, claimed that the incident started when Pakistan made an infiltration bid in the Keran Sector of Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (30 August 2011) which was foiled by Indian security forces. He claimed that on Wednesday (31 August 2011) night, at around 20:00 hours, an Indian border post was fired on by Pakistani troops. Following the first shots, both sides engaged in a firefight, with the Indians claiming that heavy mortars and machine guns were used, and that the shooting lasted for about 50 minutes. Accusing Pakistan of two ceasefire violations in the space of fifteen hours, India claimed that the exchange of fire continued at 1100 hours the following day after a brief lull.

Casualties
India confirmed the death of one soldier during the incident. He was identified as Naib Subedar Gurdayal Singh. Pakistan announced that three soldiers of the irregular Mujahid Battalion were also killed.