India, Pakistan exchange heavy firing on Line of Control

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in touch with world leaders over tensions

While UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has not spoken to Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Imran Khan of Pakistan, he has been in touch with other leaders on both sides to express his concern over the tension between the two nations, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

"We are fully aware of the situation," he told reporters on Tuesday. "The Secretary-General has had no calls with those two heads of government as far as I am aware, but he has had contacts with both sides to express his concern and the need to do as much as anyone can to de-escalate the tensions".

He declined to elaborate, saying, "I have shared what is shareable."

Overnight fire exchange

Jammu: Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged heavy fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district until the early hours on Wednesday, Defence Ministry said.

The Pakistan Army used mortar shelling and small arms as they resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Sunderbani sector from around 10.30pm on Tuesday.

"The firing continued till 4.30am; Indian positions retaliated strongly," Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said.

Heavy firing exchanges also took place between the two armies in Nowshera sector of Rajouri and Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch on Tuesday.

A soldier was injured in Kalal area of Rajouri in the firing.

All educational institutions continued to remain closed within 5km distance from the LoC in both these districts.