India, Pakistan exchange fire on Kashmir LoC

The military forces of India and Pakistan Tuesday exchanged fire on Line of Control (LoC) in restive Kashmir, thereby violating cease- fire agreement, officials said.

Troopers on the two sides of divide targeted each other's positions in frontier Rajouri and Poonch districts, south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing early today in forward posts along the LoC at Krishna Gati sector of Poonch," Lt Col Manish Mehta, a military spokesman said. "Last night also they (Pakistan) resorted to unprovoked firing in BG Sector of district Rajouri."

According to Mehta, Indian troops deployed in both the sectors retaliated appropriately to the firings from Pakistan side.

"No casualty or damage has been reported in these twin incidents until last reports came in," Mehta said.

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 gave befitting reply to the other side.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on 720 km-long Line of Control (LoC) and 198 km International Border 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.

India and Pakistan share strained relations over a host of issues including Kashmir.LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.The two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir and both claim the territory in full. Endi