Indian and Pakistani troops, massed on the border since mid-December, have exchanged heavy fire for the second successive day in the disputed Kashmir region, an Indian defence official said.
The fighting comes ahead of a meeting in New Delhi today of India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). It is to discuss security measures in Kashmir following a deadly attack this week on an army camp near Jammu, blamed by India on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists.
"There has been heavy mortar firing through the night in the Akhnoor sector of the Line of Control," the official said referring to a ceasefire line that divides the disputed region between the nuclear foes. "It is continuing but the intensity has reduced."
Troops also traded small arms and heavy machinegun fire along the frontier in Kathua, R.S.Pora and Samba sectors in southern Kashmir, the official said.
There were no reports of casualties but some houses were damaged on the Indian side, the official said.
New Delhi yesterday vowed to fight what it calls terrorism after 34 people, mostly wives and children of soldiers, died in the raid on the army camp earlier this week.
Washington has called for restraint by the neighbours who have massed a million men and equipment on their border since a bloody attack on India's parliament in December, blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists.