India and Pakistan troops exchange fire

Troops from Pakistan and India exchanged fire in disputed Kashmir for a third night in a row, officials said yesterday, as relations between the nuclear-armed rivals plunged to their lowest level in years.

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India has accused Pakistan of supporting "cross-border terrorism" after gunmen carried out the worst attack on civilians in contested Muslim-majority Kashmir for a quarter of a century.

Islamabad has denied any involvement, calling attempts to link Pakistan to the attack "frivolous" and vowing to respond to any Indian action.

Indian security forces have launched a massive manhunt for those responsible for killing 26 men at a tourist hotspot in Pahalgam on 22 April.

The Indian military said yesterday there had been "unprovoked" firing of small arms "initiated by Pakistan" along the Line of Control that separates the two countries.

"(Our) own troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire," it added.

Pakistan has not yet confirmed the latest exchange of fire.