India, Pakistan troops exchange fire on Kashmir LoC

Troops of India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged heavy fire and targeted each other's positions on Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, Indian officials said.

The two sides exchanged fire in Nowshera sector of frontier Rajouri district, about 220 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian Defense officials said the exchange started on Monday evening and continued until early Tuesday. There were no reports of any casualty or injury to the Indian side.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on 720 km-long LoC and 198 km International Border in Kashmir, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire remains in effect.

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.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated because of the ongoing civilian protests in Indian-controlled Kashmir that saw around 90 civilians dead and over 12,000 others injured.

The situation worsened between New Delhi and Islamabad following a militant attack on India's Uri army camp last month that left 19 Indian troopers dead. Subsequently the Indian military carried out what it called "surgical strikes" inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, inflicting significant casualties on what it called infiltrators and their supporters.

Pakistan, however, rejected the Indian claims about "surgical strikes".

Reports said over 25 cease-fire violations along LoC were recorded after "surgical strikes" claims.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

New Delhi blames Islamabad for fanning Kashmir protests and accuses it of sending armed militants into Indian-controlled Kashmir, an accusation Islamabad strongly rejects. Islamabad says it only provides moral and political support to Kashmiris.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit