SRINAGAR, Sept 11: Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire across Kashmir border, officials said on Tuesday, just days after the two south-Asian nuclear foes who have had decades of animosity agreed to ease tough visa restrictions.
The two sides exchanged rocket projectile grenades, light machine gun fire (LMGs) and other weapon fire for 30 minutes late on Monday in Poonch district of winter capital Jammu region.
“They (Pakistani troops) fired rocket projectile grenades (RPGS) and 600 rounds of light machine guns (LMGs) and other weapons at 11.15pm on Monday and continued till 11.45pm,” a security official said.
He added that army troops guarding the border with Pakistan gave a “calibrated” response and fired back effectively, adding that there was no casualty or injury to anyone in the firing exchanges.
The two nuclear-armed rivals agreed to a ceasefire in Kashmir in 2003 and while it has been largely held, short exchanges of fire occur almost every week.
The neighbours have been making tentative moves to revive a sluggish peace process that was broken off by India after the 2008 militant assault on the city of Mumbai.
On weekend Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers agreed that they will ease tough visa restrictions.
The agreement was the culmination of a visit by Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna to Pakistan, as part of a tentative peace process that froze after militants (India alleges they are Pakistanis) attacked the Indian city of Mumbai in 2008, killing 166 people.
