India, Pakistan troops clash on LoC

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

The two sides exchanged fire in Pallanwala sector of frontier Akhnoor in Jammu district, around 316 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in Akhnoor during wee hours today," Indian army officials said.

"The shelling from Pakistan side started at around around 3:00 a.m (local time) in Chamb and Pallanwala areas of Akhnoor."

Indian military officials said their troops guarding the LoC retaliated to the firing and the exchange of fire lasted for several hours.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's official broadcaster on Saturday said Indian forces once again resorted to "unprovoked" firing and shelling across the LoC at Chamb and Bhimber sectors.

"The firing started at 4:00 a.m (local time) and continued until 8:00 in morning," the broadcaster quoting Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) as saying.

" A befitting response from Pakistan army silenced the Indian guns."

There were no reports of any damage or casualty on either side due to the exchange of fire.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on the 720 km-long LoC and 198 km International Border (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.

Tensions between the two neighbors escalated because of the ongoing civilian protests in Indian-controlled Kashmir and a recent deadly attack on an Indian army base in frontier Uri town, about 109 km northwest of Srinagar. The attack killed 19 troopers and wounded over 20 others.

However, things worsened after Indian military on Thursday announced it entered inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, close to LoC, and carried out deadly "surgical strikes."

According to India's Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, during the "surgical strikes" significant casualties were inflicted on infiltrators and their supporters. Singh however, has not given the details about casualties of infiltrators or Pakistan army in the attacks but said their troopers returned back safely.

Pakistan, however, rejected Indian claims about "surgical strikes" inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. According to ISPR two Pakistani troopers were killed due to firing early Thursday from Indian troops across LoC in Bhimber, hotspring, Kel, and Lipa sectors.

Officials in New Delhi fear attacks from Pakistan in retaliation of the "surgical attacks," and thus have ordered evacuation of civilians from frontier areas bordering Pakistan.

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.

Source : XINHUA