Pakistan says Indian fire kills 2 villagers in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says Indian troops have fired across the frontier between the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region, killing two civilians and wounding two others.

Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal says Indian troops Thursday targeted the villages of Thub and Banchiran on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control with mortars and other weapons. Army officials said Pakistani forces returned fire and it was unclear if there were any casualties on Indian side.

There was no immediate comment from India.

The nuclear-armed rivals routinely blame each other for starting any skirmishes and insist they are only retaliating.

Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over their competing claims to Kashmir, which is split between them, and both claim the region in its entirety.