Indian, Pakistani border in Kashmir calms down after days of shelling

The Indian and Pakistani border in Kashmir calmed down for the first time Friday after nine days of heavy firing and mortar shelling across the international border and the Line of Control, said Indian security officials.

Officials of the Indian paramilitary Border Security Force told local media that there was no shelling along the international border in Indian-controlled Kashmir's Jammu and Samba districts since Thursday night.

"There was no cross-border firing reported during the intervening night of Oct. 9 along the International Border in Jammu and Samba districts which had been witnessing heavy shelling and firing from automatic arsenal by the Pakistan Rangers," local daily The Times of India online quoted security sources as saying.

Eight people were killed and over 80 injured on the Indian side of the division lines of Kashmir in the shelling over the past days, while over 30,000 had to flee their homes and take shelter at safe places set up as relief camps by Indian authorities.

• India said Pakistani troops targeted at least 60 border posts and over 100 border villages along the 192-km-long international border over the past few days, while Indian forces retaliated with heavy shelling on the Pakistan targets, killing at least 10 people earlier this week.

• India and Pakistan have accused each other of violating a fragile ceasefire in Kashmir reached in 2003.

India warned that Islamabad could pay an "unaffordable price" for its "adventurism," while Pakistan urged New Delhi to allow UN military observers to visit the Line of Control.
Sources: Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
10/10/14
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