An Indian soldier was killed today in firing by Pakistani army along the de facto border in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

This was the fourth casualty on the Indian side in Pakistan's mortar shelling and small arms firing in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch since August 17, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The soldier was deployed at a forward post at Kalsia village of Nowshera sector which came under unprovoked firing from across the border in the early hours, the officials said.

The soldier was taken to a military hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Indian troops retaliated effectively to silence the Pakistan forces but the casualties on the Pakistani side were not known immediately, the officials added.