MIrpur (AJK)/SRINAGAR - The military officials of Pakistan and Indian traded accusations on Sunday after the death of two Pakistan civilians and four Indian soldiers, who were killed during an exchange of gunfire along Line of Control in Kashmir.

As per officials on both sides, four other Pakistanis including two children and two Indian soldiers were also injured.

Two civilians were martyred and four others sustained serious injuries as a result of unprovoked firing by the Indian forces in Nezapir and Rawalakot sector in Rawalakot district of Poonch division and Kotli sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to ISPR, Indian forces opened unprovoked firing in Nezapir and Rawalkot sectors, targeting civil population. Pakistani army responded effectively to Indian firing targeting civilians, said the ISPR.

According to details gathered from the local authorities, the Indian firing hit forward areas close to this side of the LoC in Nezapir and Rawalakot. As a result a local Muhammad Rafaqat s/o Zakir Hussain Rathore resident of Mandhaar, Forward Kahota, was martyred while two children were injured.

The unprovoked Indian firing, according to the locals, started at about 11.00 in the morning and continued will 3.00 pm intermittently. The injured were rushed to a local hospital in Forward Kahota, a freelance Forward Kahota-based local journalist told this correspondent.

In Kotli district, Indian troops fired mortar shells at Tarkundi, Plani and Kalar Galla villages of Nakyal sector in the afternoon, “without any provocation, targeting unarmed and innocent civilian populations,” said Nakyal Assistant Commissioner Waleed Anwar.

A 25-year-old woman, identified as Tasleem Begum, daughter of Mohammad Sadiq, embraced martyrdom in Plani village, he said and added two other civilians were also injured in the Indian firing.

As the Pakistani official said Indian forces started the violence by firing onto the Pakistani side, an Indian official claimed Pakistan started firing artillery and small arms onto Indian positions.

Each said their forces returned fire only in retaliation. The Indian official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters.

The Indians said an army officer and three other soldiers were killed and a BSF sub-inspector was injured in the Pakistani firing along the LoC in Tarkundi and Sunderbani areas of Rajouri district of Occupied Kashmir on Sunday evening. An officer in the rank of captain was among those killed.

“Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively and heavy damage has been inflicted on Pakistani Army posts. However, in the exchange of fire, one officer and three jawans were grievously injured and succumbed to their injuries,” the Indian army statement added.

Earlier, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Indian forces will fire countless bullets if Pakistan fires one. “As our neighbour, we do not want to attack Pakistan first. We want to live in peace and harmony with all our neighbours. But unfortunately Pakistan is trying to tear down Jammu and Kashmir and continues attacks on our forces and territory.”

He said “I have ordered our forces that if one bullet comes from that side, fire countless bullets at them,” Singh said at a poll rally in Barjala in Agartala.