Indian and Pakistani forces fired across their ceasefire line and international border in contested Kashmir today, as a flurry of diplomatic missions were launched to ease tensions between the nuclear foes.
The exchanges began overnight and lasted into the morning, but there were no early reports of injuries, an Indian defence official said.
British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw said today he believed Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was "genuine" in his commitment to crack down on terrorism but that the proof would be events on the ground.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is reported to have added that there was a limit to India's tolerance of Pakistan's alleged provocation.
"It is absolutely necessary to avoid a war, but there is a limit to our patience," Mr Vajpayee told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a telephone call, according to Jiji Press news agency.
They spoke the day after the Japanese premier held similar talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to urge restraint as tensions escalate along the Indo-Pakistani border.
Mr Koizumi also called on the Indian leader to exercise restraint and show leadership in an effort to avoid a war between the nuclear-armed rivals.
AFP &