3 civilians wounded in India, Pakistan firing on Kashmir LoC
Xinhua, August 15, 2015 Adjust font size:
At least three people were wounded Saturday after troops of India and Pakistan targeted each other on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said.
The exchange broke out in Sabjian area of Poonch this morning, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Three civilians were wounded as Pakistani troops again violated the cease-fire by targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs along the LoC in four sectors of Poonch district today on independence day," an Indian official said.
India on Saturday celebrated its 68th anniversary of independence.
The three wounded civilians have been hospitalized, officials said.
India's official broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) quoted military spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta as saying that Pakistani troops resorted to firing of 60 mm and 82 mm mortar shells on forward posts and civilian areas along LoC in Mandi, Hamirpur and Saujiyan sectors of Poonch.
The firing started from 6:20 p.m. on Friday and lasted until 7: 30 a.m. on Saturday.
Reports said Indian side effectively retaliated to firing from Pakistan.
On Friday, a woman reportedly was killed and her two daughters and husband were wounded on Pakistan side when an Indian mortar struck their home in the Nezapir sector.
The fresh skirmishes has triggered panic among the civilians on both sides of LoC, who according to reports have started fleeing from their houses.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his independence day speech ignored the customary reference of reaching out to its neighboring country Pakistan. However, Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday said his nation believes in "peaceful co- existence" with India, though it would not comprise if its defense and security came under threat.
The new cycle of cease-fire violations has come days after heads of the two countries last month agreed to restart bilateral talks to discuss all outstanding issues during their meeting at Russia's Ufa.
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.
LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.
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.
The two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir and both claim the territory in full.
India and Pakistan share strained relations over host of issues including Kashmir.The first-ever security level talks between the two countries is scheduled to be held on Aug. 23 in New Delhi. Endi