SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) --- Troops of India and Pakistan exchanged heavy fire and targeted each other's positions on the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said Friday.
The two sides exchanged fire on LoC in frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Pakistani forces last night resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and firing along LoC in Poonch district," an official said. "The firing and shelling was aimed at targeting Indian positions and civilian areas in Gulpur sector started at 10:00 p.m local time."
Indian army officials said their side duly retaliated to the firing and and gave a befitting reply to Pakistani troops.
"Our troops guarding the LoC in the sector retaliated to the shelling and exchange of fire continued for an hour," the officials said.
According to officials, so far no reports of damage were received from Indian or Pakistani side.
Earlier this week three troopers - two from Pakistan and one from India - were killed during skirmishes in Tangdhar-Kupwara along LoC.
New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating ceasefire agreements on LoC. And both the sides maintain that their troops gave befitting reply to the other side.
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.
