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4 wounded in India, Pakistan firing on Kashmir border

Xinhua, July 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

wounded in India, Pakistan firing on Kashmir border

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 16 (Xinhua) - - At least four people were wounded Thursday after border guards of India and Pakistan targetted each other on International Border ( IB) in Kashmir for the second straight day, officials said.

The fresh exchange broke out in R S Pora sector about 45 km southwest of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing and mortar shelling along IB in R S Pura sector around 1:00 a.m. today targeting five border outposts and some civilian areas," an Indian official said. "The exchange of fire continued until 6:00 a.m. and four persons in Brewa village were wounded."

India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) Thursday said Indian side effectively retaliated to firing from Pakistan.

On Wednesday a woman was killed and six others, including two BSF personnel wee wounded in a similar exchange.

The new cycle of cease-fire violations has come days after heads of the two countries agreed to restart bilateral talks to discuss all outstanding issues during their meeting at Russia's Ufa.

Last week, India said two of its border guards were killed by Pakistani fire in separate incidents on LoC dividing Kashmir.

Pakistan's official broadcaster Radio Pakistan quoting Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Thursday said four civilians were killed and five others wounded on their side of Line of Control (LoC) due to Indian firing .

The broadcaster also said Pakistan military responded to Indian firing effectively.

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

Earlier this year deadly exchanges between troops of the two countries triggered migrations of civilians from frontier areas.

Islamabad Wednesday said it has shot down an Indian spy drone which it said intruded into Pakistan controlled part along LoC near Bhimber, a claim rejected by New Delhi.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on 720 km-long LoC and 198 km IB in Kashmir, 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.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC on both sides is guarded by troops of the two countries. Endi