Islamabad denies report

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 28. Pakistan today dubbed as ``total lies'' the claim made by the Indian forces that their soldiers were killed and bunkers destroyed in retaliatory firing and shelling in the Poonch sector.

``These are nothing but lies being dished out by the ground troops on the LoC to account for ammunition and killing of the civilians in unprovoked and heavy firing by the Indian forces,'' was the cryptic comment of the Press Secretary to the Pakistan President, Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi.

The Pakistan military, however, alleged that three civilians were killed in the firing by the Indian Army across the LoC. A press statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate said the Indian troops used field artillery, heavy mortars, heavy machine guns and other automatic weapons in Tuesday's shooting in the Satwal and Batal sectors of Rawalakot district in the Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

It said 20 persons, including seven women, were wounded. Six were in serious condition.

In a related development, the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said here that Pakistan would continue to extend ``moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause''.

He made these observations when the President of PoK, Mr. Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, called on him here.

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