India: Trooper wounded in clash with Pakistan military in Kashmir

An Indian military trooper was wounded Saturday in clash with Pakistani soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, officials said.

The two armies resorted to firing on each other's positions in the Krishna Ghati sector of frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir.

"Forward areas of the Krishna Ghati sector witnessed unprovoked cease-fire violations by Pakistan army this morning," Lt Col Manish Mehta, a locally based Indian military spokesman, said. "A trooper was wounded in the firing."

India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said the trooper was immediately hospitalized.

No comment from the Pakistani side is immediately available.

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

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

The two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir and both claim the territory in full.

Security-level talks between India and Pakistan were canceled last month hours before the proposed schedule over the issue of Kashmir.

Source: XINHUA