2 Indian troops killed in Pakistan-India skirmishes in Kashmir

Two Indian army troops were killed Wednesday in skirmishes between Pakistan and India on the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Kashmir, officials said.

An Indian army spokesman said the casualties took place in Keran sector of frontier Kupwara district, some 130 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a cease-fire violation today two troops lost their lives in Keran sector of Kupwara," Indian military spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia told Xinhua.

"The incident took place at around 2:20 p.m. local time."

On Saturday, two people including a woman were killed in Poonch sector, while as five civilians were killed on Pakistani side in a similar exchange of fire.

The mortars fired by both armies hit civilian areas along the LoC.

There has been an increase in the cease-fire violations on the LoC over the past two months.

Both the two armies say they have damaged each other's bunkers and release video evidences to support their claims.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between Pakistan and India, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

source: Xinhua