Feb 13, Kathmandu- Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged fire along the heavily militarized Kashmir border that divides the two long-standing rivals, with the Pakistani side saying at least four people were killed on Thursday.

Kashmir has been divided between two neighboring countries since its partition from the Asian subcontinent at the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Both nations claim it in full and have fought two wars and numerous smaller battles for control of this Himalayan region.

Pakistani state broadcaster PTV, citing unidentified security sources, said two Pakistani soldiers and two civilians were injured in Wednesday's incident.

Unidentified Indian security officials told broadcaster NDTV that the Indian army responded to unprovoked firing by the Pakistani army.

The Pakistani military declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Indian army officials did not respond to requests for comment.

The incident comes two days after two Indian soldiers were killed by an explosive device in the area.

A border ceasefire agreement signed by the two neighbors in 2003 has largely held in place in the decades since, but both sides repeatedly accuse each other of violating it.

Last month, the Indian army said its soldiers had killed two rebel fighters on the Kashmir border as they tried to enter Indian-administered territory.

Several rebel groups have fought Indian troops stationed in the Muslim-majority region, demanding independence or merger with Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict, most of them civilians.

Fighting has subsided since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government revoked partial autonomy in 2019 and imposed direct control of the region from New Delhi. But last year, thousands of additional troops were deployed to the southern mountainous regions after a series of deadly insurgent attacks that killed more than 50 soldiers in three years.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of sending insurgents across the shared border to attack Indian troops. Pakistan denies the accusations, saying it only supports Kashmir's struggle for self-determination.