Srinagar, Sep 1 (IANS): Heavy exchange of artillery firing has been on since Thursday morning in north Kashmir's Keran sector on the line of control (LoC) between India and Pakistan, an officer said.

"Unprovoked firing was started by Pakistan troops on our post in Keran sector of the LoC in north Kashmir Kupwara district yesterday (Wednesday) evening," Lieutenant Colonel J.S. Brar, spokesman of the army's Srinagar-based 15 corps told IANS.

"Our troops returned the fire after which the exchange of firing had stopped.

"But, since this (Thursday) morning, the Pakistani troops have started artillery firing at our positions. The fire was retaliated and since then, the exchanges are continuing in the sector," Brar added.

He also confirmed that an Indian Army jawan had been wounded in the initial firing from the Pakistan side.

"One of our jawans has been wounded in the initial firing. He has been evacuated for treatment. This is a major violation by Pakistan of the bilateral ceasefire," the spokesman added.

Giving other details, Brar said the alert troops on the Indian side had foiled an infiltration bid by the guerrillas in the same sector of the LoC two days ago.

"One junior commissioned officer (JCO) had been martyred in the operation against the intruding terrorists," he added.