Kashmir foes trade blame

India and Pakistan have blamed each other for a fierce clash near the line of control dividing the two sides in Kashmir.

Indian forces say they killed at least 10 Pakistani soldiers trying to cross into Indian territory. Pakistan says the Indians attacked first and has disputed the casualty figures.

Tension is high in the territory

The BBC's Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad says the clash is the two sides' most serious in the disputed territory since an unannounced ceasefire two months ago.

The Indian Government has reiterated that it will not be swayed by violence.

Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani told the BBC there would be no negotiations with Pakistan while what he called cross-border terrorism continued.

Conflicting accounts

The clash came early on Thursday morning, according to India.

Civilians sometimes get caught in the crossfire

General PPS Bindra of its northern command said his troops had fired on up to 40 Pakistani troops who were attempting to penetrate Indian territory in the Poonch sector.

He said one Indian soldier had been killed in the exchange and another had been wounded. One soldier was also reported to be missing.

An official statement from Pakistan, however, said its troops had repulsed an unprovoked attack on one of its border posts, forcing Indian soldiers to withdraw with heavy casualties.

A military spokesman said two Pakistani soldiers were dead and two missing. He said the Indians had fled, abandoning ammunition and rocket launchers.

Frequent clashes

Indian and Pakistani troops routinely exchange fire along the 740 km (463 mile) ceasefire line or Line of Control (LoC) between them.

The last two months, however, have seen no serious fighting since an unofficial ceasefire was agreed.

The two countries have fought two wars over Kashmir since 1947.

In May 1999, Indian troops were engaged in an eight-week long battle against what they called Pakistan-backed infiltrators in the Kargil sector of Kashmir.

The hostilities ended when the fighters withdrew back to the Pakistani side.