Jammu, Dec 11 (IANS): Five Pakistani soldiers were killed and three injured in an overnight retaliatory action by the Indian army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, Defence sources said.

"Pakistan initiated unprovoked firing and shelling targeting civilian facilities in Mankote sector of the LoC in Poonch district on Thursday.

"Damage was caused to civilian properties due to indiscriminate targeting of civilian facilities by the Pakistan army.

"This necessitated befitting retaliatory action by the Indian army in which five Pakistani soldiers were killed and three injured. Several of their bunkers have also been destroyed", sources said.

Firing exchanges between the two sides lasted for 2 hours.

Since the beginning of this year, Pakistan has with impunity violated the bilateral ceasefire agreement signed by the two countries in 1999.

30 civilians have been killed and over 100 injured in over 3200 ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC in J&K since January 2020.

The lives of thousands of people living in villages close to the LoC in J&K have been on the edge because of cross LoC shelling.