SRINAGAR, India: At least 10 civilians have been wounded as Pakistani troops fired guns and mortar shells at more than a dozen Indian border posts overnight in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, an official said Friday.

A paramilitary officer said on the customary condition of anonymity that Indian guards retaliated and an exchange of gunfire lasted several hours. He said the fighting continued till Friday morning at some places in southern Jammu region.

The wounded included four children in three villages, said local civil administrator Shantmanu, who uses only one name.

There was no immediate comment by the Pakistani government.

India on Wednesday accused Pakistani troops of firing on at least 50 Indian border posts, calling it the most serious violation of a 2003 cease-fire accord.

However, Pakistan said Indian troops targeted 27 Pakistani posts near Sialkot with machine guns and mortar shells.

The gunfire resumed Thursday night after a lull during the day.

While the cease-fire has largely held for the past decade, sporadic violations are not uncommon. Since January this year the two nuclear-armed neighbors have regularly accused each other of initiating the fighting by firing mortar shells or gunshots across the frontier.

The latest incidents come even though the Pakistani and Indian prime ministers meet last month in New York and agreed on the need to reduce tensions.

India has accused Pakistan of nearly 200 violations of the 2003 cease-fire agreement this year.

The countries have fought two wars over control of Kashmir, which is divided between them and claimed by both.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of supporting Kashmiri rebels who have been fighting on the Indian side since 1989 for independence or a merger with Pakistan.

An estimated 68,000 people have been killed in the conflict, though most resistance is now shown through street protests. Pakistan denies giving any backing to the rebels beyond moral support.