India, Pakistan Troops Resume Firing on Kashmir LoC, Border

The exchange of fire between the two sides was reported from IB in R S Pora sector about 45km southwest of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India's official broadcaster-All India Radio (AIR) said Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing on border outposts of Border Security Force in R S Pora.

"The Pakistan Rangers started unprovoked firing on some Indian forward posts around 5:30 am (local time) today, evoking retaliation from BSF guarding the border," the broadcaster said. " The intermittent exchange of fire is still continuing."

According to AIR, there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side, so far.Meanwhile, cease-fire violation was reported from Poonch, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital. Indian officials said their side retaliated to firing from Pakistan, Xinhua reported.

"Pakistani troops violated the cease-fire last night on LoC in Hamirpur sector of Poonch and fired on our posts using small arms and automatic weapons," an army official said. "Our troops gave a befitting reply to Pakistani firing and exchange lasted for several hours."

Since the beginning of this month, deadly skirmishes took place between Indian and Pakistani troops posted on 720 km-long LoC and 198 km IB in Kashmir. The two sides suffered 21 casualties, nine on Indian side and 12 on Pakistani side during the stand-off.

A government spokesman said over 28,000 people living close to IB in Indian-controlled Kashmir have migrated to safer places in wake of the heavy firing.

The firing along the IB resumed after a lull of several days.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC on both sides is guarded by army, while IB is guarded by Border Security Force on Indian side and Pakistan Rangers on the other side.