ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani soldiers were killed as a result of indiscriminate Indian firing along the disputed Kashmir border, the military's media wing said on Tuesday.

“Indian troops resorted to unprovoked fire in Rakhchakri, Rawalakot Sector along the Line of Control (LOC),” the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a brief statement.

“Pakistan army responded effectively. Reports of casualties on Indian side,” the statement added.

The exchange of fire is the latest in a series of border clashes between the two nuclear neighbors along the LoC in recent weeks.

“Indian unprovoked aggression along the LoC is condemned and is being effectively responded,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal said in tweet.

There was no immediate comment from New Delhi on the incident.

Tensions between the two countries escalated sharply after a February 14 suicide attack that killed at least 40 Indian troops in the Pulwama district of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Things took a turn for the worse when, on February 26, India launched an airstrike inside Pakistan's territory. Retaliating to the airspace violation, Pakistan shot down two Indian air force planes and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India a few days later.

On Monday, the ISPR issued a statement dismissing “repeated Indian claims” about shooting down of a Pakistani F-16 aircraft by India and use of F-16 in the air battle on February 27.

“As regard Pakistan Air Force (PAF) action for strikes across Line of Control, it was done by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace," excerpts from the ISPR statement read, adding that it was "immaterial" whether it was an F-16 or JF-17 which shot down the two Indian aircraft.

"Even if the F-16 have been used – as at that point in time the entire PAF (Pakistan Air Force) was airborne including F16s – the fact remains that the PAF shot down two Indian jets in self defense," the statement read.