SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Pakistani forces fired mortars across the de facto border in Kashmir early on Tuesday, killing two villagers in Uri sector of the Line of Control (LOC) in north Valley’s Baramulla district.
“Three innocent civilians lost their lives due to the unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Churunda Village of Uri Sector, very close to the Line of Control,” a defence spokesman said in a statement..
“Keeping the danger to the lives of other civilians of the nearby villages in view, Indian Army chose not to escalate the situation by retaliating,” the statement added.
The incident underlined the fragility of ties between the two arch rivals who have exchanged artillery duels across the LoC for decades killing hundreds on both sides.
There were frequent exchanges of fire between the two forces before the New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to a ceasefire across the dividing line there in 2003. They continue to exchange sporadic fire.
The latest incident is unlikely to have any impact on renewed efforts by the two countries to improve their ties.
