7 civilians wounded in skirmishes between India, Pakistan troops on Kashmir border

t least seven civilians were wounded Tuesday in skirmishes between the troops of India and Pakistan on the International Border (IB) in Kashmir, officials said.

The two sides fired mortars and resorted to heavy firing in R S Pora sector, about 45 km southwest of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controled Kashmir.

"Pakistani shelling in R S Pora sector today has wounded seven people," an official said. "The firing took place in the afternoon and was going on until late."

Indian border guards belonging to Border Security Force (BSF) said their troops effectively retaliated to the firing from Pakistan Rangers.

Reports said firing between the two sides broke out in Nowshera sector of Rajouri along the Line of Control (LoC).

On Monday, a border guard and a six-year-old boy were killed, while as eight civilians and a border guard wounded in the exchange of fire.

According to Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Indian firing at working boundary on Monday killed two civilians including a baby girl and wounded seven others.

Last week Indian border guards claimed it killed seven Pakistan Rangers personnel in skirmishes on International Border (IB), the claim rejected by Pakistan.

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.

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 a cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire, however, remains in effect.

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