India, Pakistan troops exchange fire on Kashmir LoC

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

The two sides exchanged fire on LoC in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Defense officials said the exchange started on Thursday evening and continued until early Friday.

"Pakistani troops started unprovoked firing in Pallanwal, Manjakote and Balkote sectors targeting border posts and civilian areas last evening," an Indian army official said. "Our men guarding the borderline retaliated and gave a befitting reply to Pakistani shelling."

Reports said exchange of fire continued throughout the night.

There were no reports of any casualty or injury to the Indian side due to the Pakistani firing.

The past several weeks have seen a surge in skirmishes on International Border (IB) and LoC between the two countries. Apart from troop casualties, the firing has claimed civilian lives on both sides, besides prompting migrations of residents from frontier areas.

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.

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

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