Jammu, Sep 22 (IANS): Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir late Saturday, an army spokesman said Sunday.

Indian troops retaliated, and the exchange of gunfire continued till the early hours of Sunday.

"Pakistani troops fired at our positions in Hamirpur area of the LoC in Rajouri without any provocation late last night (Saturday)," defence spokesman Captain S.N. Acharya told IANS.

"The enemy (Pakistan) used small arms and automatic weapons to target our positions. Our troops retaliated the enemy fire with matching calibre weapons," he said.

"The Pakistani firing started at 11.55 p.m. yesterday (Saturday) and the exchange of gunfire in the area continued till 2 a.m. today (Sunday). No loss occurred on our side," he said.

Pakistan has been since the beginning of this year frequently violating the ceasefire, signed by the two neighbours in November 2003.

India has said the violations of the ceasefire were unprovoked.

Defence sources told IANS that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir almost 100 times so far this year.

Many residents living close to the LOC in Poonch and Rajouri districts are reported to have shifted families to safer locations because of the increasing firing incidents.