India says fired at from Pakistan side, 1 killed

By Sheikh Mushtaq

SRINAGAR (Reuters) - An Indian soldier was killed in cross-border firing in Kashmir, an Indian security official said on Monday, though Pakistan denied any violation of a six-year-old ceasefire in the disputed region.

It was not clear whether the firing on Sunday night was from separatist militants trying to sneak into the Indian side of Kashmir or from Pakistani troops.

India has in the past accused Pakistani troops of cross-border firing to help militants cross the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir between the two countries to join a nearly 20-year revolt there. Pakistan denies the accusation.

"A soldier fell to bullets fired from across the Line of Control late Sunday," an Indian army official, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The shooting took place in the Poonch sector of south Kashmir.

A Pakistani military official denied any violation from the Pakistani side.

"It's a wrong allegation," said the Pakistani official, who declined to be identified.

The ceasefire in Kashmir, launched in 2003, has largely held although there have been violations in recent months.