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5 civilians wounded in India, Pakistan firing on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, July 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Five people including three women were wounded Saturday after troops of India and Pakistan targeted each other on Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, Indian's official broadcaster All India Radio said.

The civilians were injured at Jotria village in Shah Pur Kerni area of frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian military officials said Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing again across LoC Saturday afternoon using small arms and mortars on some Indian positions which was effectively retaliated by the Indian military.

"Troops on our side of LoC are retaliating appropriately to firing from Pakistan," reads a statement issued by Indian military spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta.

According to Mehta, the two sides exchanged fire in Nowshera sector of neighbouring Rajouri on Friday night.

The deadly exchanges since Wednesday claimed five lives on both sides, besides left over a dozen wounded.

The fresh exchange of firing has triggered migrations of civilians from forward areas, reports on both sides said.

Pakistan's official broadcaster, Radio Pakistan, on Saturday blamed India military of resorting to firing on LoC at Nezapir sector.

The broadcaster quoting Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa as saying India always resorts to such violations on every festive occasion in Pakistan.

Saturday marked Eid-ul Fitr festival in Pakistan, the end of Muslim holy month of fasting (Ramadan).

Reports said the exchange of firing was going on until evening.

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.

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.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on the 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