India, Pakistan armies trade fire in Kashmir

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India, Pakistan armies trade fire in Kashmir

(Xinhua) 09:25, September 03, 2013

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The armies of India and Pakistan Monday targeted each other's positions by resorting to heavy firing on line-of-control (LoC) in Kashmir, officials said.

The ceasefire violation took place in Mendhar sector of frontier Poonch district, around 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Pakistani army this afternoon fired small arms and automatics at our positions in Mendhar sector," said S N Acharaya, Indian army spokesman in Jammu.

"Our side immediately retaliated in a strong manner to Pakistani firing."

The exchange between two armies lasted for an hour.

"The ceasefire violation started at 1:00 p.m. (local time) and lasted until 2:00 p.m.," Acharaya said. "There was no report of any casualty or damage due to Pakistani firing on our side."

Firing on LoC restarted after a gap of three days. During this period no such violation was reported anywhere along the 720 km long LoC dividing Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

Skirmishes between two armies are going on almost at daily basis since Aug 10. Majority of the exchanges took place on LoC in Poonch.

Both India and Pakistan blame each other of resorting to unprovoked firing that triggers skirmishes resulting in civilian or troop casualties on the either side.

On Aug. 6, five Indian troops were killed and another was wounded in a deadly ambush near Sarla in Poonch. India accused Pakistani troops of entering into its territory and carrying out the attack, a charge Pakistan denies.

Following the incident, reports say so far three Pakistani troopers including an officer were killed in Indian firing on LoC.

The killings and skirmishes on LoC have come at a time when New Delhi and Islamabad were trying to normalize ties and resume talks. The confrontation has heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad and overshadowed resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue process.

New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe ceasefire along the international border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.

The latest incidents of firing however have put a question mark on the 2003 agreement.