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Civilian killed, 5 wounded in India, Pakistan skirmishes on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, September 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

A civilian was killed and five others wounded Monday in deadly skirmishes between the troops of India and Pakistan on Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, officials said.

The two armies resorted to firing on each other's positions in Sabjian area of Poonch, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Pakistan military today violated cease-fire and resorted to unprovoked firing on our posts and civilian areas, killing a civilian and wounding five others," Lt Col Manish Mehta, Jammu based Indian military spokesman told Xinhua. "The firing started at around 7:00 p.m. (local time) last evening and was going on intermittently even now."

India's official broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said Monday' s cease-fire violation was ninth in last seven days.

Reports said Pakistan army fired 82 mm mortars, and rocket propelled guns to target Indian side.

According to Mehta, Indian army was retaliating to the firing appropriately and with equal force.

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

Last month at least 10 civilians were killed and over 50 others wounded on both sides of International Border (IB) in Kashmir in similar exchange.

While three civilians were killed and 12 wounded in R.S. Pura Sector of Indian-controlled Kashmir, seven civilians were killed and 40 others wounded at Sialkot in Charwah sector of Pakistan.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchanged fire on 720 km-long 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.

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.

Security level talks between India and Pakistan were canceled last month hours before the proposed schedule over the issue of Kashmir.

The two sides were supposed to discuss cease-fire violations on LoC and border during the high-level meeting. Endi