NEW DELHI // Five Indian soldiers were killed and one was injured in an attack along India's disputed border with Pakistan in the Kashmir region, officials said.
India accused Pakistan's military of involvement in the ambush at Chakkanda Bagh, which could threaten recent overtures aimed at resuming peace talks. Previous negotiations between the two countries broke down over a similar incident in January.
"The ambush was carried out by at least 20 men dressed in Pakistan's army uniform," AK Antony, India's defence minister said in New Delhi during a parliament session.
Pakistan's military denied the charge that its soldiers had killed Indian troops. It remains unclear who carried out the attack.
Yesterday's attack, one of the worst since a ceasefire in 2003, puts the Indian government under pressure to respond aggressively with elections due next year.
Mr Antony said that India's army was "fully ready to deploy" if needed to protect the Kashmir region.
The attack also puts pressure on Pakistan's new prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who made better ties with India a theme in his election campaign in May.
While both sides have largely maintained peace across the border area, sporadic fighting along the LoC is not uncommon.
The two armies clashed in the same region in January after two Indian troops were killed and one of them decapitated. Following public outrage in India over that attack, the Indian government called off peace talks with Pakistan.
The latest killings caused an uproar in the Indian parliament yesterday as MPs accused the government of being soft.
Sonia Gandhi, the Chairman of the United Progressive Alliance, a coalition of political parties led by her Congress party, said "the nation will not be cowed down by such blatant acts of deceit".
Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said on Twitter that violent incidents "don't help efforts to normalise or even improve relations" between the two countries.
He also sent his condolences to the families of the soldiers who were killed.
India and Pakistan have fought three major wars over the territory of Kashmir since they achieved independence from the British rule in 1947.
While the countries remain rivals, relations have improved over the past few years. Last December, in a sign that both countries were intent on improving ties, new visa rules were announced to make cross-border travel and trade easier.
sbhattacharya@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by the Associated Press and Reuters
twitter: For breaking news from the Gulf, the Middle East and around the globe follow The National World. Follow us
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
Sri Lanka v England
First Test, at Galle
England won by 211
Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs
Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
