Poonch, J&K:
Pakistani troops fired at Indian posts near the border in Jammu and Kashmir last night in another ceasefire violation, the first since New Delhi called off talks between the two countries on Monday.
Indian officers said the Pakistan army used semi-automatic and automatic weapons in unprovoked firing at posts in Hamirpur sector in Poonch. Indian soldiers "responded adequately", they said.
No deaths or damage has been reported.
India called off Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan, scheduled for next week, over its envoy's invitation to Kashmiri separatist leaders, saying that Islamabad's "interference in India's internal affairs is unacceptable".
The government said that Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had phoned the Pakistani High Commissioner to warn, "Either talk to separatists or talk to us."
Islamabad retaliated, saying, "Pakistan is not subservient to India. It is a sovereign country and a legitimate stakeholder in the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."
A spurt in attacks that violate the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control, the de facto border between the two countries, also cast a shadow on the talks.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley called the attacks deliberate, and said Pakistan and "powers within" clearly do not want ties with India to be normal.
There have been 12 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along LoC and the International Border in Jammu region in as many days.
Indian officers said the Pakistan army used semi-automatic and automatic weapons in unprovoked firing at posts in Hamirpur sector in Poonch. Indian soldiers "responded adequately", they said.
No deaths or damage has been reported.
India called off Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan, scheduled for next week, over its envoy's invitation to Kashmiri separatist leaders, saying that Islamabad's "interference in India's internal affairs is unacceptable".
The government said that Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had phoned the Pakistani High Commissioner to warn, "Either talk to separatists or talk to us."
Islamabad retaliated, saying, "Pakistan is not subservient to India. It is a sovereign country and a legitimate stakeholder in the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."
A spurt in attacks that violate the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control, the de facto border between the two countries, also cast a shadow on the talks.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley called the attacks deliberate, and said Pakistan and "powers within" clearly do not want ties with India to be normal.
There have been 12 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along LoC and the International Border in Jammu region in as many days.
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