India, Pakistan skirmishes on Kashmir LoC kills border guard, child

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A border guard belonging to India's Border Security Force (BSF) and a 6-year old girl were killed, while 14 people including nine civilians wounded Monday in skirmishes between troops of India and Pakistan on Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, officials said.

The skirmishes broke in frontier Poonch district, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A 6-year-old girl child was killed and nine civilians wounded due to shelling from across the LoC in Shahpur, Kerni, Mankote, Mendhar and Krishna Ghati sectors here," a police official said. "Also six troopers -- two from army and four from BSF were wounded in the skirmishes. However later on, of the wounded BSF men, one succumbed."

According to locals heavy shelling that started in the morning and continued intermittently during the day from other side triggered panic in the frontier areas.

Indian army officials said their side also effectively retaliated to the firing from Pakistan.

Reports said authorities have closed all educational institutions close to the LoC in the wake of the skirmishes.

Meanwhile, a 70-year-old man was killed on the Pakistan side due to firing, Pakistan's official broadcaster said Monday.

"Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing on civilian population at Neza Peer sector on LoC this morning which resulted in killing of one person," Radio Pakistan said.

There has been no respite in the cross LoC firing ever since the two countries came face-to-face with each other on Feb. 26. Tension between New Delhi and Islamabad increased after India carried out an air strike inside Pakistan, triggering a retaliation.

On Feb. 27, according to India's foreign ministry spokesperson, a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets. An Indian air force pilot was also captured by Pakistan but was handed over to New Delhi after three days.

Though his release de-escalated the situation to a large extent, the situation on LoC continues to be tense. The daily firings and skirmishes forced a large number of population on both sides to migrate to safer locations.

Both New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain that their troops gave befitting reply. The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on 720 km-long LoC and 198 km international border (IB) in Kashmir, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a cease-fire, which remains in effect.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.