Exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani border guards: At least ten dead

At least ten people were killed in the exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani border guards in the divided region of Kashmir, according to the new toll of the victims announced by local officials.

Six Pakistani civilians were killed near the city of Sialkot in Punjab and four Indian citizens.

According to the report of the Pakistani army, in the exchange of fire that took place last night, 46 Pakistanis were injured, including 22 women.

According to previous information from Indian officials, two Indian civilians were killed in the exchange of fire.

Indian local official Simrandeep Singh earlier accused Pakistani border guards of opening fire with small arms and mortars across the border in the Pura sector last night, although they were unprovoked.

Tensions have risen between the two countries since early Sunday when talks between their national security advisers broke down over disagreements mainly over Kashmir.

The ceasefire on the border established between the two countries since 2003 is generally respected, but isolated incidents of exchange of fire and border skirmishes are quite frequent.

The area is divided between India and Pakistan, and both countries claim it.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training rebels fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its annexation to Pakistan, which Islamabad denies. India and Pakistan fought two wars over control of Kashmir.