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India, Pakistan military exchange fire on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, February 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

The troops of India and Pakistan violated cease-fire agreement and targeted each other's positions on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said Sunday.

The two sides exchanged fire in frontier area of Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The defense officials said the exchange between the two sides broke out over suspicious attempt of an infiltration. "Yesterday our troops posted in Poonch sector observed movement of three to four persons trying to cross LoC," Lt Col Manish Mehta, an Indian military spokesman said. "When these persons were well within the Indian territory, our troops deployed in the area opened fire on them and simultaneously, Pakistani post located across this area opened heavy fire on our troops."

According to Mehta, the persons trying to cross the LoC were seen running back towards Pakistan side.

Indian officials said they did not suffer any damage in the exchange.

Both New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain that their troops give befitting reply to the other side.

On Saturday, Pakistan said a civilian was killed in their part due to indiscriminate firing by Indian troops.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on LoC and International Border (IB) despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire however remains in effect.

According to Indian officials, last year 564 cease-fire violations -- 411 along IB and 153 violations along LoC -- were recorded. Endi