India and Pakistan blamed each other today for firing which killed at least three people along the military line dividing the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
Indian defence officials said they estimated as many as 11 people may have been killed on the Pakistani side in the firing that took place yesterday across the Line of Control.
A Pakistani military statement said three civilians were killed and 20 people wounded, including seven women, in what it called unprovoked firing by the Indian army.
It said Indian troops used field artillery, heavy mortars, heavy machine guns and other automatic weapons in the shooting in the Satwal and Batal sectors of Rawalakot district in the Pakistan-administered section of Kashmir.
The Pakistan army retaliated against the unprovoked firing and silenced the enemy guns, the statement said.
Indian officials said there had been no deaths on the Indian side and defence authorities said in a statement that the Pakistani firing was probably aimed at helping guerrillas cross over into Indian-ruled Kashmir.
The likely damage suffered by Pakistani troops is estimated to be six bunkers destroyed, eight bunkers damaged and approximately 11 Pakistani troops killed, the statement said.
A defence official told reporters Indian troops saw ambulances ferrying casualties across the line.
Pakistan last week accused the Indian army of killing two women in cross-border firing in the Himalayan region that has been the cause of two of the three wars between the South Asian rivals since they gained independence in 1947.
