An Indian army trooper was killed on line-of-control (LoC) in Kashmir during skirmish with Pakistani troops, officials said Wednesday.

The trooper war killed after being hit by a mortar Tuesday evening in Hamirpur in Bhimber Gali sector of frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A trooper lost his life due to unprovoked firing by Pakistan army in Bhimbar Gali Sector last evening," said Col. R K Palta, Indian army spokesman in Jammu.

"The trooper was hit by splinters of mortar shell and succumbed to his injuries, "According to Palta, firing in the sector started early Tuesday morning and continued until late evening.

"Pakistani forward posts opened heavy volume of automatics and mortar fire, which was retaliated by our side with similar caliber weapons," he said.

The firing and killing is likely to trigger further tension in the areas close to LoC.

New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe cease-fire along the international border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire remains in effect.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

Both India and Pakistan blame each other of resorting to unprovoked firing. Skirmishes between the two armies have been going on almost at daily basis since Aug. 6. Majority of the exchanges took place on LoC in Poonch. Both sides have suffered troop as well as civilian casualties during the standoff on 720 km long LoC.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of providing arms and training to Kashmiri militants. However, Islamabad says it only provides moral and political support to Kashmiris.

Last month the prime ministers of two nuclear neighbors agreed to reduce tension along LoC in Kashmir as the first step towards comprehensive peace in the region during their meeting on the sidelines of UN General Assembly.

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