Heavy firing exchanges are underway on the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday between Indian and Pakistan in J&K's Poonch district, Defence ministry spokesman said.

Colonel Devender Anand said: "The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Shahpur sector of Poonch district around 11 a.m. Indian army is retaliating befittingly."

Since January 1, 2020, Pakistan has violated bilateral ceasefire on the LoC over 1,550 times. Senior army officials say repeated ceasefire violations are done by Pakistan to push armed infiltrators into J&K.