Pakistanis, Indians in Kashmir firefight

INDIAN and Pakistani troops exchanged fire across their disputed border in Kashmir yesterday, two days after a deadly raid on an army base that New Delhi blamed on Pakistanbased militants.

Eighteen soldiers died in Sunday’s attack, which was the worst of its kind to hit the divided Himalayan region in more than a decade and has increased hostility between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

India n a rmy spokesma n Colonel Rajesh Kalia said there had been a “ceasefire violation” near Uri, where Sunday’s attack took place, but gave no details. Uri is near the Line of Control (LoC) which divides the disputed territory.

“Small-arms exchange of fire is on in the area,” a senior police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Separately, Kalia said troops in the same area had blocked an attempt by suspected militants to cross the LoC into Indianadministered Kashmir.

The Press Trust of India news agency said 10 suspected militants had been killed in the incident but this could not immediately be confirmed.

India regularly accuses its arch-rival of arming and sending rebels across the heavily militarised border that divides Kashmir between the two countries, to launch attacks on its forces.

Occasional violations of a 2003 ceasefire between the nucleararmed rivals are not uncommon. The last was reported on September 6 this year and caused no casualties.