Jammu, Sep 17 (IANS): Indian and Pakistani troops traded gunfire on the Jammu and Kashmir border after the Pakistanis violated a ceasefire in the region for the 18th time this month, officials said.

Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Mendhar sector on the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, military spokesman Col. R.K. Kalia told IANS.

"They used small arms, automatics and infantry mortars to target our positions. Our troops retaliated with similar calibre weapons," he said.

According to him, the firing started at 8.40 a.m.

The Pakistani firing injured a civilian, Taj Mohammed of Dheri village, on his shoulder, a defence ministry statement said.

A ministry statement said: "The (Pakistani) fire was given immediate and strong reply by own forward posts.

"Our posts retaliated strongly and brought down effective automatic and mortar fire on the enemy posts which forced them to stop firing."

According to Indian officials, Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire signed by the two countries in 2003 since Sunday in Poonch district.

The latest was the 18th ceasefire breach by Pakistan in September, taking the total number of violations to 96 in 2013, the ministry said.