Heavy firing in Poonch after Army detects movement across Line of Control

The Indian troops opened fire on the suspected infiltrators and thereafter there was exchange of heavy fire, said Colonel Palta. After about half-an-hour of exchange of fire, the suspected infiltrators disappeared from the scene, Colonel Palta said, adding that the intensity of firing from both sides has reduced but is going on.

It is suspected that either a groups of militants or Border Action Team (BAT) could have been undertaking movement close to LoC opposite Krishnagati sub-sector in Poonch tonight.

Pakistani troops had continued intermittent firing across the LoC at five posts in the Krishna Ghati and Sona Gali sectors of Jammu and Kashmir all through last night, sources in the Indian Army said. They added that the firing first began from the Pakistani side at around 4.30 pm on Friday after which India retaliated.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid told NDTV today that India has not got any substantial response from Pakistan yet on the "mutilation" of the bodies of the two jawans who were killed by Pakistani troops near the LoC. Of the two jawans who were killed on Tuesday, one was decapitated. The minister emphasised that this was "unacceptable and must be explained" but added that "we are not going to be pressurised by wild calls for revenge and reaction."

Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne has said that India may have to look at "some other options for compliance" if ceasefire violations by Pakistan continue. "We are monitoring the situation carefully because if these things continue to be the way they are and these violations continue to take place, then perhaps we may have to look at some other options for compliance," he told reporters in New Delhi.

There have been a series of high-level meetings in Delhi as India monitors the tension along the LoC in Kashmir. New Delhi has also sought a flag meeting between Indian and Pakistani commanders in Mendhar, but Pakistan is yet to respond to the request.

The stand-off has impacted the cross-border trade and a bus service between the Poonch sector in India and Rawalakot on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control (LoC). Indian authorities say they have been informed by the Pakistani side that trade and travel has been suspended in that sector because of the tension in the region and the possibility of crossfire.

Border trade is however unaffected between Uri and Chakan-da-Badh in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and across the Wagah-Attari border. Cross-border trade and bus services were both introduced to build confidence and trust between the two countries. Vegetables and fruits are bartered every week at designated trade centres along the LoC.

Both sides have accused the other's troops of violating the ceasefire and crossing the LoC to kill jawans. Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal was summoned by the Pakistan government on Friday in protest against the death of a Pakistani soldier who died on Thursday evening allegedly in firing by Indian troops. A statement released after the meeting said Pakistan had protested against "the repeated, unacceptable and unprovoked attacks on Pakistani soldiers by the Indian Army."

The tension began on Sunday when the Pakistani army accused India of killing one of its soldiers and wounding another in a cross-border attack. India said its troops had opened fire following a Pakistani mortar attack, but denied they crossed the border. Four soldiers have been killed in the last five days. This week marks a peak in hostility since 2003, when the ceasefire was agreed upon.