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India, Pakistan border guards trade fire on Kashmir border

(Xinhua)    18:40, October 22, 2014
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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 22 -- The border guards of India and Pakistan Wednesday fired on each other' s posts along international border (IB) in Kashmir, officials said.

The exchange of fire between two sides was reported from IB in Samba and Jammu districts.

India's official broadcaster-All India Radio (AIR) said Pakistan resorted to firing with small and automatic weapons at 9: 40 a.m. (local time) on border outposts of Border Security Force ( BSF) in Jammu and Samba.

"Pakistan targeted Indian border outpost Narinpur in Ramgarh sector of district Samba and another border outpost Stop-2 in Arnia Sub-Sector of Jammu," an official said. "The firing was continuing intermittently when reports last came in."

According to AIR, the BSF guarding Indian border retaliated to firing from Pakistan side.

Reports said exchange between the two sides hampered harvesting of paddy crop by local farmers close to the border.

Pakistan's official broadcaster-Radio Pakistan said India once again resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling at Charwah sector.

"Chenab Rangers responded effectively to the Indian firing and shelling," the broadcaster said.

The new exchange comes days after Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley threatened Islamabad of severe reaction it continues with violating cease-fire.

"Pakistan will feel the pain of adventurism if it persists with cease-fire violations along the border in Kashmir," Jaitely told media.

Jaitely said India was ready to have talks with Pakistan if it creates environment for that.

Since the beginning of this month deadly skirmishes took place between Indian and Pakistani troops posted on 720 km-long Line of Control (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 28000 people living close to IB in Indian-controlled Kashmir have migrated to safer places in wake of the heavy firing.

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.

Last week Director General Military Operations (DGMOs) of two countries held talks over the hotline. However, the confrontation seems to be intensifying.

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.

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.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on LoC and IB, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease- fire however remains in effect.

(Editor:Kong Defang、Bianji)
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