The Indian Army has launched a massive counter assault along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir a day after Pakistani forces mutilated the body of a soldier and killed two others.

The fire assault on Pakistan's permanent defences has begun with the Army using heavy mortars to hit back. The Pakistani army posts that helped infiltration along the border by giving cover fire are being decimated.

The offensive comes hours after the Indian Army vowed "heavy retribution" for the attack on its soldiers.

Brigadier, Northern Command, S Gotra told news agency PTI that the Army launched the counter offensive in Machhil sector of Kashmir. "The Indian Army posts are responding strongly and giving a befitting reply," Defence PRO Manish Mehta told PTI.

In retaliation, Pakistan Army also fired at Indian posts along the LoC in Bhimber Gali, Krishna Ghati and Nowshera sectors.

BIGGEST ASSAULT SINCE 2003

Senior officers said it is the biggest fire assault yet along the LoC since 2003.

On Tuesday, three soldiers were killed, and one of them was beheaded on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir - in action that the army said bore the "signature" of the Pakistan Army's Border Action Team.

The beheading was the second incident of mutilation of a soldier's body in less than a month.

On October 28, terrorists, aided by the cover fire by Pakistani Army, had crossed the Line of Control and killed an Indian army jawan and mutilated his body in Macchil sector. One attacker was killed in that incident.



Pakistan has denied the allegations.