India, Pakistan Border Guards Exchange Fire on Kashmir Border
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A border guard of India's border Security Force (BSF) was killed and seven others including four civilians were wounded Wednesday in an exchange of fire with Pakistani Rangers on international border (IB) in Kashmir.
Indian officials said Pakistani Rangers violated cease-fire and resorted to unprovoked firing on their forward posts in Arnia sector of R S Pora, around 45 km southwest of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Four BSF troopers and four civilians were wounded today in an unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Rangers on IB," said an official. "The wounded men were immediately removed to hospital, where a BSF trooper succumbed to his wounds."
The civilians were working in nearby fields at the time of firing.
Reports said the Indian border guards also retaliated to the firing from the Pakistan side and the exchange continued for sometime.
The cease-fire violation comes a day after the two sides held a flag meeting at Chambiliyal border outpost in Samba district, Xinhua reported.
This is the third cease-fire violation so far in this month.
The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on line-of-control (LoC), despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire along IB and LoC in Kashmir.Both New Delhi and Islamabad blame each other of resorting to unprovoked firings.
Last year over 200 cease-fire violations were recorded on LoC, the highest in the last ten years.
The LoC on both sides is guarded by army, while as IB is guarded by BSF on Indian side and Pakistan Rangers from the other side.
