Kashmir Fighting Escalates Between India, Pakistan

Indian and Pakistani troops traded fire on Saturday along their volatile frontier in Kashmir, killing at least four civilians and a soldier in the latest escalation of violence in the disputed region. The deaths on both sides of the border came as the nuclear-armed rivals exchanged blame for initiating the hostilities, which have involved the shelling of villages and border posts and are in violation of a 2003 ceasefire accord, AP reported. Saturday’s fighting is the fourth straight day of deadly confrontation between the neighbors, with six civilians and three soldiers killed in previous days. India and Pakistan have a long history of bitter relations over Kashmir, a Himalayan territory claimed by both in its entirety. They have fought two of their three wars over the region since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.