India, Pakistan troops violate cease-fire, target each other on Kashmir LoC

Troops of India and Pakistan violated the cease-fire agreement between them and targeted each other's positions on the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said Tuesday.

The two sides exchanged fire on Monday night in Uri sector of frontier Baramulla district, about 140 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a cease-fire violation last night, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing at our positions in Uri sector," Indian military spokesman Col N N Joshi told Xinhua. "The firing continued intermittently for half an hour and our side also fired in retaliation."

Pakistani officials are not immediately available for comments. No damage or causality was reported on either side.

The exchange between the two sides has come after month's lull on the LoC. A similar exchange was reported in Poonch sector last month.

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. The LoC is heavily guarded by military on both sides.

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.

Source: XINHUA