Srinagar, India - Pakistani troops fired across the line of control that divides India- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Indian defence sources said Wednesday.

The incident took place in the Kupwara sector of the line of control, the de-facto border, sources in the Jammu and Kashmir state capital Srinagar said. More details were awaited, they added.

Fierce clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the border on Monday and Tuesday left one Indian soldier dead.

The fighting that lasted more than 16 hours stopped Tuesday, and a meeting was held between Indian and Pakistani troops.

Indian officials claimed Pakistani soldiers had entered India-administered Kashmir to protest the construction of an Indian bunker near the line of control.

A Pakistani Army spokesman denied that its troops had crossed the de-facto border and said they were trying to stop Indian soldiers from establishing "a forward post in the area on the Pakistani side."

Indian media reported that four Pakistani soldiers were also killed in retaliatory firing in the area 100 kilometres north of Srinagar, but those reports were categorically denied by a Pakistan Army spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas.

Indian officials alleged the fighting was the most serious violation of the ceasefire with Pakistan announced in November 2003.

Soon after implementing the ceasefire, India and Pakistan resumed a peace process in 2004 to resolve eight issues dividing them, including the dispute over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Kashmir has been at the root of tense relations between the South Asian neighbours since their independence from British rule in 1947. The two countries have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir. (dpa)