India and Pakistan exchange fire in Kashmir - media

Pakistani and Indian soldiers traded fire in disputed Kashmir yesterday, killing at least nine people on both sides.

According to the Indian military, Pakistani soldiers targeted an Indian border post and civilian areas along the highly militarized frontier in Kashmir early in the day, leaving two army soldiers and a civilian dead.

An Indian army spokesman, Col. Rajesh Kalia said three Indian civilians were also injured in the Pakistani firing. Kalia called it an "unprovoked" violation of a 2003 cease-fire accord between India and Pakistan, Reuters reported.

Pakistan's army later said that "unprovoked cease-fire violations" by Indian troops killed five civilians and one soldier and wounded another three civilians and two troops across the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between Pakistan and India.

The army said Indian troops targeted civilians in Jura, Shahkot and Nousehri sectors. It said Pakistani forces responded with heavy fire on Indian soldiers.