Kupwara:
Indian and Pakistani troops have stopped exchanging fire across the Line of Control (LoC), more than 16 hours after they clashed near Kupwara.
India and Pakistan have agreed to have a flag meeting between sector commanders. The meeting is expected later on Tuesday.
In the latest incidence of ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC), one Indian soldier was killed in the clashes. The body of the jawan has been recovered.
Four Pakistani soldiers have also been killed in the clashes.
The trouble began when a group of Pakistani soldiers crossed the LoC on Monday at around 3:30 pm. They were waving white flags.
",Around 3:30 pm we spotted about 10-12 Pakistani troops. They had crossed the LoC and when our patrol party set out to talk to them, they opened fire killing one of our soldiers. Then the Pakistani troops returned to their post and started firing on us, we retaliated. This is the first time in four years that we have retaliated,", said defence spokesperson Lt Col Anil Mathur.
The group was objecting to the construction of a bunker by the Indian Army. A heated argument broke out between the two sides and a Pakistani soldier opened fire, killing one Indian soldier.
That's when a gun battle started with the Indian Army retaliating. This forced the Pakistani troops to go back to their side of the LoC.
According to the 2003 ceasefire agreement, India and Pakistan had agreed not to construct any new bunkers.
The incident comes a week after Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said the peace process was ",under stress",.