India says its border guard killed in Pakistan firing on LoC

A border guard of India's Border Security Force (BSF) has been killed in firing from Pakistan side on Line of Control (LoC) - dividing Kashmir.

The border guard was killed at Karam Post in frontier Baramulla district, about 110 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A BSF trooper was killed in firing from Pakistan side on LoC this evening," an official told media Thursday. "Indian troops also retaliated to firing from Pakistan."

India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said sniper fire from Pakistan side killed the border guard.

The cease-fire violation has come a day ahead of proposed meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet at Russia's Ufa on Friday.

This is the second fatality to Indian side in the last five days on LoC in restive region.

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

Thursday's firing between two sides was the fourth cease-fire violation on LoC and International Border (IB) between the two sides since Sunday.

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.

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.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC on both sides is heavily guarded by military on both sides.

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.

New Delhi and Pakistan have been maintaining a tough posture which prevents them from entering into a dialogue process to improve relations.

Last year New Delhi called off foreign secretary-level talks with Islamabad citing reservations over Pakistan's engagement with Kashmiri separatists ahead of the talks. Enditem