Indian, Pakistani military trade fire on Kashmir LoC

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir - The troops of India and Pakistan violated cease-fire agreement and targeted each other's positions on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir on Monday evening, officials said Tuesday.

The two sides exchanged fire in Balakot sector of frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Pakistani troops violated cease-fire by resorting to firing on some forward posts along the LoC in Balakot sector of Poonch district last evening," an Indian army official said, adding that the Indian troops guarding LoC retaliated to the firing.

The firing started around 8:00 pm (local time) and continued for 10 minutes, local media reports said.

According to India's official broadcaster -- All India Radio ( AIR), Indian side has not suffered any damage in the exchange.

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 give befitting reply to the other side.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on LoC and International Border (IB), despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire however remains in effect.

In October this year, deadly skirmishes took place between the troops of the two countries posted on the 720 km-long LoC and 198 km-long international border (IB) in Kashmir. The two sides suffered 21 casualties (nine on Indian side and 12 on Pakistani side) during the stand-off.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC on both sides is guarded by army, while IB is guarded by BSF on Indian side and Pakistan Rangers on the other side.

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.