The border guards of India and Pakistan exchanged fire for the third straight day Friday on international border (IB) in Kashmir, officials said.

The two sides using light and heavy artillery targeted each other's posts for hours together. However, there were no reports of loss of life or damage in the fresh exchange.

According to India's official broadcaster -- All India Radio ( AIR), Pakistani Rangers violated the cease-fire first, evoking retaliation from India's Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.

"Pakistani Rangers stationed at Jarwal Post across the International Border, resumed targeting Pittal BSF border outpost in Arnia forward area in RS Pura Sector in Jammu around 11 p.m. last night with light and heavy arms," AIR quoting BSF officials as saying. "BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated with equal calibre arms and mortar resulting in exchanges which continued until 4:30 a.m. today."

An Indian border guard was killed, while three of his colleagues and four civilians were wounded in Arnia sector of R S Pora on Wednesday in exchange of fire between the two sides.

This is the fifth cease-fire violation so far in this month.

On Thursday Director General of BSF, D K Pathak visited the forward area on IB in Jammu and reviewed the situation in Arnia area of RS Pura Sector in the wake of the continuous exchange between two sides.

According to AIR Pathak later had a meeting with senior officers and border guards and called upon them to strongly retaliate the firing from the Pakistani Rangers.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on line-of-control (LoC), despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire along IB and LoC in Kashmir.

Last year over 200 cease-fire violations were recorded on LoC, the highest in the last 10 years.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endi

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