TWO paramilitary soldiers were killed and eight civilians wounded yesterday when Pakistani soldiers attacked dozens of forward posts along the highly militarized frontier in disputed Kashmir, Indian officials said.

The fighting comes barely a week after the two nuclear-armed rivals agreed to stop trading fire along the volatile frontier and uphold a cease-fire accord dating back 15 years. The two sides agreed Tuesday to defuse tensions in Kashmir and use existing mechanisms of hotline contacts and border meetings at local commanders’ level to resolve the issues.

Pakistan did not immediately comment.

Indian border guards said Pakistan “yet again blatantly” violated the 2003 cease-fire agreement and they were retaliating. They said the Pakistani shelling was “indiscriminate and unprovoked” and was not just targeting paramilitary outposts but also villages.

Indian authorities were first trying to evacuate sick and injured villagers living near the frontier in bulletproof vehicles amid intense shelling and automatic gunfire, said top police officer S.D. Singh.

Singh said they have kept temporary shelters ready to receive frontier residents.

Tensions have soared in recent months, as both sides have shelled border posts and villagers. (SD-Agencies)