Asia

Asia

2 women killed, 20 wounded as India, Pakistan clash intensifies on Kashmir border

09 October 2014 03:52 (UTC +04:00)

"Two women were killed today morning when a shell from across the border hit their house in forward village Chilayari in Samba district," an official said. "Twenty people including three Border Security Force (BSF) men were wounded also due to Pakistani firing. "

Reports said the women had returned to the house after a night at a safer place identified by the local government officials.

A surge has been witnessed in the cease-fire violations along border in Kashmir dividing India and Pakistan over the past week. The armies of two neighbors exchange heavy fire and mortars along IB and Line of Control (LoC). The troops apart from border outposts have began to target civilian localities.

Reports said Pakistan Rangers targeted 63 Indian border outposts and in retaliation India BSF fired on Pakistan's 70 outposts.

Officials said the skirmishes started Tuesday night and lasted until Wednesday morning in Samba, R S Pura and other areas.

Both New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreement, while both sides maintained their troops gave befitting reply to the other side.

On Monday, nine people, five on Indian side and four on Pakistani side, were killed in the border flare-up.

So far, seven people have been killed and nearly 70 others wounded on the Indian side in Indian-controlled Kashmir due to Pakistani firing, Indian officials said.

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

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC on both sides is guarded by army, while as IB is guarded by BSF on Indian side and Pakistan Rangers from the other side.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.