India, Pakistan troops exchange fire in Kashmir

The troops of India and Pakistan posted on line-of-control (LoC) in Kashmir Tuesday resorted to heavy firing on each other's positions, officials said. The cease-fire violation took place in morning along the Bhimber Gali sector of frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir. "Pakistani army today at 10:35 a.m. (local time) violated cease- fire and targeted our positions in Hamirpur Battalion of Bhimber Gali sector using small arms, automatics and mortars," said Col. R K Palta, Indian army spokesman in Jammu. "Our side also retaliated effectively to Pakistani firing with similar caliber weapons." According to Palta intermittent firing continued for around one hour. "Our side has not suffered any damage due to Pakistani firing," he said. The fresh cease-fire violation has come at a time when Indian home minister was in restive region to review security scenario along the international border (IB) and LoC in wake of skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops. Skirmishes between the two armies have been going on almost on daily basis since Aug. 6. However, for the past several days similar exchanges are going on along IB near Kashmir. Both sides have suffered troop as well as civilian casualties during the standoff on the 720 km long LoC and 198 km long IB. LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe cease-fire along the international border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire remains in effect. The two countries meanwhile are blaming each other for resorting to unprovoked firing.