Indian and Pakistani military officials agreed to avoid artillery exchanges in Kashmir

Indian and Pakistani military officials in a rare move have agreed to avoid artillery exchanges in Kashmir, where several soldiers and civilians have died this month.

The Pakistani military says in a statement late Tuesday the understanding was reached between the sides during a special hotline contact involving the director generals of military



operations.

It says both sides "agreed to undertake sincere measures to improve the existing situation, ensuring peace and avoidance of hardships to the civilians along the borders."

It says both sides agreed to fully implement the 2003 cease-fire agreement "in letter and spirit forthwith and to ensure that henceforth the cease-fire will not be violated by both sides."