India, Pakistan armies exchange fire on LoC in Kashmir
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E-mail Xinhua, October 19, 2012
India and Pakistan armies exchanged fire on Line-of-Control (LoC) in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Thursday.
The ceasefire violations took place Wednesday along the LoC in Goutrian and Mankote-Mendhar belts of frontier Poonch district, around 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Indian army officials said the ceasefire violations started Wednesday evening and continued until late. "Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on our posts last evening," said Col R K Palta, Indian army spokesman based in Jammu. "First the firing started in Goutrian sector and then in Mendhar sector. The firing was totally unprovoked."
Indian army also fired in retaliation. "We gave calculated and adequate response to Pakistan firing," said Palta. However, no loss of life or damage to property was reported in this exchange.
LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts. Three civilians were killed on Tuesday after Pakistani troopers fired mortars towards a village close to LoC in Uri sector of frontier Baramulla district, around 110 km northwest of Srinagar city, Indian army said.
Region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday urged Pakistan to stop ceasefire violations along the LoC as retaliation from the Indian side could lead to an unending skirmish between the two sides. New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire along the International Border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from British, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
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