12 Pakistan rangers killed in recent firing between the troops along the border: Border Security Force

NEW DELHI: The Border Security Force may have killed as many as a dozen Pakistani Rangers, including one officer, while injuring three personnel of Pakistan Army during the recent exchange of fire between the troops of the two countries along the border, officials familiar with the matter said.

“This casualty toll is, however, uncorroborated. There is no way to confirm it. But BSF believes they have killed a dozen Pakistani Rangers since October 2 night in the firing across the border, which includes an officer,” a government official said, emphasising that BSF has inflicted serious damage across the border.

In a letter to the United Nations, Pakistan has said it has suffered 12 civilian casualties, 52 injured civilians and nine injured military personnel on its side. “We believe there are many more casualties on Pakistan side. They may not be declaring the military casualties in order to not deflate the morale of its forces,” the official cited ear- lier said. BSF has not suffered any casualties but eight civilians on the Indian side lost their lives in firing by Pakistan this month.

A senior government official said the “major difference” in BSF’s response this time from earlier occasions was the “sheer volume of fire” opened by them. “A fire from one post from the Pak side led to BSF bombarding multiple posts of Pak across sectors. Pak Rangers were ill-prepared for such retaliation. The ferocity this time by BSF was unparalleled due to the political go-ahead…wherever BSF hit Pak posts, they got it,” the official said. Reports submitted by BSF to the MHA do not cite any reasons and say there was “no immediate provocation” for Pak to start firing since October 2. In light of Pak approaching the UN, the MHA is preparing a report on the losses and will hand it over to the foreign ministry.