Jammu, May 4 (IANS): Indian and Pakistani troops traded gunfire overnight after Pakistanis opened fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the military said Sunday.
The fighting erupted when Pakistani troops reportedly violated the ceasefire in the region and "resorted to unprovoked firing" at Indian positions in Mendhar sector, a defence ministry official told IANS.
"The Pakistani firing stated at 11.30 p.m. Saturday," spokesman Col. Manish Mehta said. "The Pakistanis used small arms and automatics. We responded."
Indian officials alleged that Pakistani troops normally open fire along the LoC to give cover to separatist guerrillas trying to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Army meanwhile foiled an infiltration bid in Poonch district. It was the second such attempt in less than two days along the winding LoC that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
"A group of five to six militants tried to sneak into our side of the LoC in Dera Dabsi area at night," a defence ministry spokesman told IANS.
"Our troops fired at the infiltrators who withdrew. No casualty occurred on our side although the militants fired at our men after being challenged."