Four Pakistani soldiers were killed on Thursday in an exchange of fire with unknown attackers at the border with India in occupied Kashmir, the military said. The soldiers were on a routine patrol along the Line of Control (LoC) when "unknown miscreants" fired at them, military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP.

"Two of our soldiers embraced martyrdom at the spot and two others injured later died at hospital," Abbas said, adding that three others suffered minor injuries. The attackers were hiding in the thick forest in Hajera sector along the Line of Control on the Pakistani side of the border when they fired at the troops, he said. Abbas said the soldiers returned fire and afterwards search parties were sent to hunt the attackers.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008