ISLAMABAD: Four people, including two soldiers, were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the military's media wing said on Saturday.

Soldiers belonging to both the nuclear armed South Asian neighbors traded fire along the Line of Control (LoC) which divides the disputed Kashmir region.

“Two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced shahdat (martyrdom) in the Nakiyal Sector in exchange of fire while targeting Indian posts undertaking firing on civilian population. Martyrs included Havaldar Abdur Rub and Naik Khuram,” a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

“Reports of casualties of Indian troops and damage to post due to effective response by Pakistan Army,” it added.

Earlier, on Saturday morning, the ISPR  -- in a separate statement -- said that the Indian troops undertook firing along the LoC. “Exchange of fire in Hotspring, Tatta Pani and Jandrot Sectors where India also deliberately targeted civil population. Two citizens embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while two got injured, including a woman.”

Tension continues to remain high between the two countries, despite Islamabad returning a captured Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, to India on Friday night, which Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan termed as a "peace gesture" to de-escalate the situation.

On Friday, Pakistan's top commander General Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to top military commanders from the United States, Britain and Australia amid the simmering tension and discussed the “prevailing standoff between Pakistan & India & its impact on peace & stability in the region & beyond,” Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General (DG) ISPR, said in a tweet.

“Surely respond to any aggression in self-defence,” it added.