Srinagar, Kashmir  - Indian security forces alleged that Pakistani troops opened fire on a post near the border in the Kashmir region on Monday killing an Indian soldier, officials and news reports said.

The firing, a violation of a 2003 ceasefire between the countries came on the eve of Foreign Office consultations on a peace process, scheduled to be held in Islamabad.

"An Indian soldier was killed in unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side on an Indian Army post near the LoC (Line of Control) in the Poonch district," Indian Army spokesman SD Goswami said.

Goswami said rockets and UBGLs (underbarrel grenade launchers) were used in the firing near the LoC, a de facto border between the Indian and Pakistani administered parts of Kashmir.

Meanwhile, senior army officers confirmed to the PTI news agency that Pakistani troops had fired on the Indian soldiers.

"They (Pakistan army) have violated the ceasefire by resorting to heavy firing on our positions", an army officer told the news agency adding that a "strong protest" was lodged by the Indian army with their Pakistan counterparts about the ceasefire violation.

Monday's firing was the third incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistani forces near the Kashmir borders in less than a fortnight. Pakistan has denied the charges.

The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are due to meet on Tuesday to review progress on the fourth round of a bilateral "composite dialogue" to resolve contentious issues including border disputes and differences over Kashmir.

Kashmir has been at the root of tense relations between the South Asian neighbours since their independence from British rule in 1947. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

After the talks between the foreign secretaries, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi on May 21.

Mukherjee's visit comes in the shadow of a terrorist attack in the northern Indian city of Jaipur last week that left 63 dead.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon has said that New Delhi will raise the issue of increased infiltration by militants across the LoC and cross-border terrorism during talks with Pakistani officials. (dpa)