Seven Pakistani Rangers and one militant were killed in retaliatory firing along the border in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, Border Security officials told news agencies including ANI on Friday, though they did not wish to be identified. Officials said the incident took place on Thursday night and that one BSF constable suffered a bullet injury in the cross-border firing. Gurnam Singh is undergoing treatment and his condition is reportedly critical.

India has said there has been an increase in ceasefire violations after it carried out surgical strikes on "terror launch pads" along the Line of Control. Officials reported breaches on October 3, 4 and 5 along the Line of Control in Jammu. On September 18, militants had attacked an Indian Army installation in Uri, killing 19 soldiers. India had accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, but Islamabad has dismissed the allegations as "baseless".

At least 16 civilians were killed and 71 others injured in 405 incidents of cross-border firing by Pakistan last year, NDTV reported.