Indian trooper killed in firing exchange with Pakistani troops on Kashmir LoC

A Indian army trooper was killed Tuesday on line-of-control (LoC) in Kashmir during an exchange of fire with Pakistani troops, officials said.
The trooper was killed in Pallanwala sub-sector, around 30 km northwest of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"A trooper lost his life due to unprovoked firing by Pakistan army in Pallanwala this morning," said Lt. Col Manish Mehta, Indian military spokesman.
"The firing was intended to facilitate the infiltration of militants into our side," he added.
Indian side also retaliated to the firing from Pakistani side.
"The infiltration attempt was foiled but searches are still going on in the area," he said.
Indian government Tuesday said its army has been befittingly retaliating to Pakistan's repeated attempts of ceasefire violations on LoC.
"The government has taken appropriate measures to curb the frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistani army," Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said in Indian parliament.
Last week the border guards of the two countries violated ceasefire several times targeting each other's positions on international border (IB).
The firing resulted in fatalities on both sides.
Both New Delhi and Islamabad blame each other of resorting to unprovoked firings.
The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on line-of-control (LoC), despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire along IB and LoC in Kashmir.