Monday, 04 February 2002 |
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Pakistan accuses India of firing across de facto border in Kashmir MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Feb 2 (AFP) - Pakistani officials accused Indian troops of mounting a three-hour barrage of firing across the tense Line of Control in Kashmir Saturday, but said no casualties were reported. "Indian forces targeted the villages in Hajira sector from 10:00am (0500 GMT) to 1:00pm using machine-guns, but so far we have not received any casualty report," said Liaqat Hussain, deputy commissioner of the southern Poonch district of Pakistani Kashmir. The targeted villages included Tetrinot, Darra Sher Khan and Madarpur, he said. Six civilians were killed in Tetrinot on Monday and another died Thursday from Indian shelling across the Line of Control that divides Pakistan- from Indian-controlled Kashmir. Hussain said he did not know if the Pakistan army had returned fire. Residents say Pakistani troops retaliate when the cross-border shelling intensifies. India and Pakistan have amassed around 800,000 troops along their respective borders despite calls for restraint from the international community. Tensions between the two neighbours escalated after a deadly attack on India's parliament on December 13, which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants. Troops deployed along the Line of Control regularly exchange fire, causing civilian and military casualties. Officials in Pakistani Kashmir have said 14 civilians have been killed and 65 wounded by Indian shelling since the December attack. |
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