Saturday, July 29 2006 11:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: A Pakistan Army officer was among three persons killed when troops recently foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said yesterday (July 28, 2006).

Mohammad Hyder Turkey alias Abu Bilal, a serving Major inNine Baloch Battalion of the Pakistan Army, was killed with two Pakistani militants on July 25 in Nanital forest in Gurez sector, Lt Col V K Batra told sources here.

He said Turkey was a resident of Gujranwala in Pakistan and the incident has clearly established the Pakistan Army's involvement in infiltration.

"The killing of the officer in the infiltration bid is clear evidence that the Pakistan Army is actively involved in pushing militants into the Kashmir valley from across the Line of Control," Batra said.

He identified the other two militants killed in the operation as Mohammad Qasim Khan alias Abu Usman and Mohammad Ayub Khan alias Islam, both residents of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Three AK assault rifles, 11 hand-grenades, 13 magazines, two under barrel grenade launchers, two wireless sets and three improvised explosive devices were recovered from the site of the gunbattle.