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India, Pakistan troops exchange fire on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, December 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Troops of India and Pakistan on 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 Poonch district, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Defense officials said the exchange started at around 9:00 (local time) in the morning and continued for one hour.

"Pakistani forces again resorted to shelling and firing in Poonch district along the LoC this morning, targeting Indian positions," an Indian army official told media.

The Indian side also retaliated to the firing.

"The exchange of fire lasted for one hour," the official said.

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

However, the firing has killed a civilian on Pakistani side.

According to Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), a civilian was killed and four children wounded in Indian firing.

"One civilian was killed and four school children were wounded when Indian troops violating cease-fire sanctity targeted a school van at LoC in Nakial sector today," a statement issued by ISPR said.

"Pakistani troops effectively responded and targeted Indian posts from where fire was coming."

Friday's exchange has come after lull of couple of weeks.

The past two months 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