India today said one of its soldiers was killed as Pakistan violated the ceasefire by resorting to mortar shelling and small arms firing on forward posts and villages along the de facto border in Rajouri district of Jammu.

Lance Naik Sandeep Thapa, 35, a resident of Dehradun, sustained fatal injuries in the Pakistani firing in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, aDefence Ministry spokesman said.

He said the unprovoked firing from across the border started at around 6:30am Indian time, drawing strong and effective retaliation by the Indian troops, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The exchange of fire between the two sides was still continuing till last reported, the spokesman said, adding the casualties, if any, suffered by Pakistan in the retaliatory action were not known immediately.

Today's ceasefire violation by Pakistan came a couple of days after Islamabad claimed that its four soldiers were killed in firing by Indian troops on their posts along the Line of Control.

Last month, two Indian army personnel and a 10-day-old baby were killed and several civilians injured in heavy Pakistani shelling and firing in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region.