Pakistan, India again exchange fire over disputed Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan,July 19: Pakistan and India again exchanged fire Saturday over the disputed region of Kashmir after violence earlier this week killed at least five people on both sides of the border. There were no casualties immediately reported, officials said.

In a statement, the Pakistani military said Indian forces used heavy weapons to target Nezapir sector in Kashmir as people there celebrated the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Pakistani troops responded with its own barrage to the "unprovoked firing" by India, it said.Indian army spokesman Lt. Col. Manish Mehta blamed Pakistan for initiating the fire. He said Pakistani troops with guns and mortar shells targeted Indian posts in Kashmir late Friday night for more than two hour and again resorted to "unprovoked firing" Saturday. He said Indian troops "appropriately" responded.

Mohammad Aslam, a Pakistani police officer from Nezapir, told The Associated Press that terrified residents fled the area as people kilometers (miles) away heard the artillery fire.

Last year, intense skirmishes during Eid al-Adha killed about 20 people on both sides of the border in Kashmir. India and Pakistan have fought two wars since 1947 over their competing claims to the Himalayan region.

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