SRINAGAR, June 19: Pakistani troops opened fire, fourth time in past week, on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) on theJammu and Kashmirborder, triggering gun battles for about two hours, officials said Tuesday.

The two rivals armies agreed a ceasefire in Kashmir in 2003 and while it has largely held, short exchanges of fire occur almost every week.

The fresh Pakistani firing on the Indian Army’s forward positions took place in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district around midnight Monday.

Pakistani troops have been regularly firing on Indian posts along the LoC that dividesJammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The officials said the firing had escalated tensions in the area, causing a scare among the locals.

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According to army sources, the Pakistani troops have been violating the ceasefire in the region for the past one week. India has lost two soldiers and two more were critically injured in the firing.

The latest provocation began around midnight Monday and lasted for more that two hours, the officials said.

The Indians retaliated in a “restrained matter” to avoid any escalation.

The situation has reportedly further worsened because Pakistan has not responded to the Indian call for a flag meeting, which is normally held to defuse tensions.

(With inputs from IANS)