India, Pakistan at odds in border gunfire

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Indian officials Monday denied a charge by Pakistan that Indian troops broke a cease-fire in an exchange of gunfire along the border early Sunday.

New Delhi in turn charged Pakistani troops began firing to cover for extremists crossing into India, The Times of India reported.

The Pakistani foreign office summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to protest the alleged infraction by Indian forces.

The Indian Army charged Pakistan forces "opened unprovoked heavy machine gun and mortar fire along the border with the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The incident was intended by Pakistan "to help terrorists across the Line of Control," the army statement said but the militants were unable to do so after a "calibrated response" by Indian forces.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement the Indian official was handed a note protesting the "unprovoked" attack by Indian troops.

"The Indian government was strongly urged to take appropriate measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future," the note said.

The foreign ministry said one Pakistani soldier was killed and another was injured.