Indian soldier killed in Kashmir cross-border fire

By Zahid Rafiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu Kashmir (AA) - An Indian soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a cross-border fire in disputed Kashmir region Wednesday.

An Indian army officer claimed that Pakistan Rangers opened the sniper fire at 5/9 GR unit of the Indian Army near Pimple Post in Keran sector along Line of Control -- the defacto border that divides Kashmir valley between Pakistan and India.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restriction on talking to media, told Anadolu Agency that the fire left four soldiers injured.

"One of the injured later died after they were taken to the 92 Base Hospital," he added.

The border forces of the two countries have been regularly violating the ceasefire agreement that they had arrived at in 2003.

Last week a civilian woman was killed in cross border firing.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

The two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.

Kashmiri resistance groups in Jammu Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict since 1989. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region.