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India, Pakistan troops exchange fire on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, January 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

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

The two sides exchanged fire on the LoC in Poonch district, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Defense officials said the exchange of fire started at around 10:00 (local time) in the morning and continued for more than three hours.

There were no reports of any casualty or damage to the Indian side.

On Friday a civilian was killed in the similar exchange in the sector.

Last year saw a surge in skirmishes on the International Border (IB) and the 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 the 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