Indian trooper wounded in exchange of fire with Pakistan military on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua

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An Indian military trooper was wounded Tuesday in an exchange of fire with Pakistan military on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, India's official broadcaster- All India Radio (AIR) said.

The exchange of fire between the two sides was reported from a forward sector in frontier Poonch district, about 185 km south- west of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A trooper was wounded after Pakistan Rangers once again resorted to unprovoked firing targeting one Indian post along the LoC in Poonch sector," AIR said.The broadcaster quoting Indian Defense spokesman saying their side also retaliated to the firing from Pakistan.

"Indian troops immediately retaliated after which the guns on the other (Pakistan) side of the LoC fall silent," the broadcaster quoted spokesman as having said.Reports said the wounded trooper was shifted to the field hospital.

On Sunday a border guard of India's Border Security Force (BSF) was killed in a similar exchange on LoC near Leepa Valley of Nowgam sector in frontier Kupwara district.

A heavy exchange of small arms and artillery was reported along International Border (IB) in Arnia area of R S Pura sector of Jammu district on Monday.

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 gave befitting reply to the other side.

Earlier this year, deadly exchanges between troops of the two countries triggered migrations of civilians from frontier areas. The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on 720 km-long LoC and 198-km 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. Indian officials said 564 cease-fire violations - 411 along IB and 153 violations along LoC - were recorded last year.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. Enditem