June 14, 2012 - 10:01 AM
SRINAGAR, India - Pakistani forces opened fire on Indian positions across their disputed frontier in Kashmir, killing one Indian soldier and drawing return fire in the Himalayan region, the Indian military said Thursday.
Pakistani forces fired rockets and automatic weapons starting on Wednesday and continuing into Thursday in an area southwest of Srinagar in what India considers a violation of a cease-fire, and Indian forces returned fire, military spokesman R.K. Palta said.
Pakistan had no immediate comment.
Palta said India contacted Pakistan via a hotline in an effort to de-escalate the situation. "However, Pakistani troops continued firing on Indian posts," he said, adding that the situation remained tense.
Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India. Their armies have observed a cease-fire in the region since November 2003, but there have been isolated shooting incidents since then.
The latest firing took place about 180 kilometres (115 miles) southwest of the main Indian Kashmir city of Srinagar, Palta said.
The Pakistani side continued firing Wednesday even when Indian forces worked to evacuate the injured soldier to a hospital, Palta said. The soldier succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Thursday.
India and Pakistan have fought two of three wars over control of Kashmir — a territory claimed by both in its entirety — since their independence from Britain in 1947.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012