Five Indian soldiers died after their border post was attacked in the disputed region of Kashmir, six months after some of the most serious violence in a decade derailed peace talks with neighbor Pakistan.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on his official Twitter account that he had been briefed on the killings. The deaths call into question recent overtures by Pakistan's newly elected government to resume meetings, he said. Pakistani troops crossed into Indian territory after midnight and ambushed the Sarla post along the so-called Line of Control that divides Kashmir, Press Trust of India reported.
The clash may hinder efforts to repair ties between the South Asia neighbors shattered by the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last month suggested dates for talks on access to water from major rivers, and the Sir Creek maritime border, his first major peace initiative since winning elections in May.
India has been considering a proposal for discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sharif at the United Nations in New York at the end of September, an Indian government official, who asked not to be named because he's not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said last week.
The parliament in New Delhi adjourned as opposition lawmakers in both chambers stood up from their seats to demand an explanation from the government over how the attack occurred.
'Wake Up'
Sitanshu Kar, India's defense ministry spokesman, did not answer two calls to his mobile phone seeking comment.
Narendra Modi, who is widely expected to be the main opposition alliance's prime ministerial candidate at the next election in less than a year, criticized the government for failing to secure India's borders. Writing on his official Twitter account, he described the attack as a "dastardly ambush".
"When will the center wake up?" Modi said, referring to the central government. "From China's intrusions to Pakistan's ambushes -- UPA government has been absolutely lax in securing Indian borders."
In January and February, India and Pakistan's governments and their militaries traded accusations of deadly raids across the de facto frontier in Kashmir. Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said at the time the clashes meant an end to "business as usual" between the countries.
India had a military standoff with China high in the Himalayas in April. India alleged Chinese troops crossed into Indian-held territory in Ladakh in the north, triggering a three-week escalation in tensions that ended with an agreement negotiated by army commanders.
'Better Relations'
"This is not the way that we are going to have better relations" with Pakistan, junior home minister R.P.N. Singh said in televised comments outside parliament, declining to comment further until the defense or foreign minister has spoken.
The territory of Kashmir is the biggest hurdle to India and Pakistan improving ties. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over the region that is divided between them and claimed in full by both.
To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew MacAskill in New Delhi at amacaskill@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net
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