Civilians killed in India, Pakistan firings on Kashmir LoC

NEW DELHI (Xinhua) - A 10-year-old boy was killed and five other civilians wounded Monday in skirmishes between troops of India and Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, Indian police said. 

The two sides exchanged fire in Kerni and Dhingwar sectors of frontier Poonch district, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. 

"Today morning Pakistan violated cease-fire in Kerni and Dhingwar sectors of Poonch," an Indian police spokesman said. "Due to firing in Kerni, a 10-year-old boy was killed and two others were wounded, while as in Dhingwar sector three civilians were wounded." 

On Friday, Pakistan army said Indian firing killed two civilians and a trooper on their side. 

"Indian troops resorted to unprovoked cease-fire violation along LoC in Rakhchikri, Rawalakot targeting civil population with heavy weapons," a statement issued by Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. 

"Two civilians including a women were killed while a trooper from army patrol assisting evacuation of civilians also came under Indian firing resulting into his killing. Besides one civilian and three soldiers were also wounded in the incident." 

Over the past two weeks, the troops from both sides posted in the frontier locations are resorting to cease-fire violations and targeting each other's positions and civilian areas. The flare-up has also triggered civilian migrations. 

Both New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on the 720 km-long LoC and 198 km IB in Kashmir despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a cease-fire. However, the cease-fire remains in effect. 

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

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. 

It is unclear what prompted the fresh stand-off between the troops of two sides. 

The two countries are currently at loggerheads with each other. There has been no considerable improvement in the relations of the two countries or resumption of bilateral relations ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014.