Pakistan denies Kashmir violation

India says ground troops fired at Pakistan planes

Pakistan has denied Indian allegations that two of its planes were shot at over Indian-administered Kashmir.

Delhi said on Monday that its ground forces in the province had fired at two Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft.

Officials in Islamabad, however, said the planes had not strayed from Pakistani airspace.

India is to decide this week on a ceasefire extension

The reported incident comes as India is considering whether or not to extend a unilateral ceasefire in the troubled region.

Training

"The facts are that there are Mushaq training aircraft on routine training in the area," Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan told reporters.

"Throughout they remained well in our territory and airspace."

An Indian army spokesman had said ground troops engaged the two twin-seater planes with small arms fire, forcing them to retreat.

"The Indian allegation was checked from the radar system and proved to be false," Mr Khan said.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday in the Chammb sector, about 65 km (40 miles) west of the state's winter capital of Jammu.

Another Indian official had said he believed one of the aircraft may have been damaged.

Delhi lodged an official protest with Islamabad over the incident.

Reports say the protest was handed over by an Indian commander in Chammb sector to his Pakistani counterpart across the border.

Escalating violence

Indian police and troops are trying to restore order in the region after days of rioting following reports of the death in custody of a Kashmiri independence activist.

India's security cabinet will discuss this week whether to extend a unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir, which is due to expire on 26 February.

Violence has escalated since November when India called the ceasefire, which was rejected by militant Muslim groups.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

Indian fighter jets shot down an alleged Pakistani spy plane after it crossed into Indian airspace over Gujarat state two years ago.