Border guard killed, 2 civilians wounded in India-Pak skirmishes on Kashmir border

NEW DELHI – An Indian border guard belonging to Border Security Force (BSF) was killed and two civilians were wounded Friday in skirmishes between India and Pakistani troops on International Border (IB) in Kashmir, officials said. 

The exchange of small arms and artillery was reported in Arnia and R S Pora sectors of Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. 

"Pakistani troops early today at around 1:00 a.m. (local time) violated cease-fire by resorting to firing, targeting BSF posts and civilian areas, which resulted in wounding a BSF trooper and two civilians," a police official said. "Though the injured were immediately removed to hospital, the BSF trooper succumbed there and two civilians are undergoing treatment." 

Officials said Indian troops also retaliated to the firing from Pakistan and intermittent exchange was going on until last reports poured in.A similar exchange was reported in adjoining Sambha sectors, officials said. 

India's official broadcaster- All India Radio (AIR) quoting officials said around a dozen border outposts and an equal number of villages were said to be affected by the shelling.On Thursday, a BSF trooper and a civilian were injured in Sambha and Hiranagar sectors, while as on Tuesday a BSF trooper was killed in Sambha in the similar exchanges. 

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 give befitting reply. 

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. However, the cease-fire remains in effect.LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. Enditem 
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