India accuses Pakistan of ceasefire violation

India accused Pakistani soldiers of firing mortar shells across the Line of Control in Kashmir in violation of an ongoing ceasefire between the nuclear-armed rivals.

A senior army official said there were no casualties on the Indian side, and Indian troops had not retaliated.

“It certainly is a violation of the ceasefire. We have exercised full restraint,” said Major General Deepak Summanwar. “Seven to eight rounds of mortars were fired. All our patrols ... have been alerted.”

Indian military officials in Kashmir said the firing may have been carried out to provide cover to a batch of Islamic militants crossing into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistan-controlled part of the Himalayan region.

Rebels based in Pakistan routinely cross over to India to wage attacks as part of their campaign to carve out a separate homeland or merge the Indian-controlled area into Pakistan.

A Line of Control divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.