SRINAGAR, India – Two Indian soldiers were killed Saturday in a fierce clash with rebels along the de facto border that splits Kashmir between India and Pakistan, the army said.
It was the second gunbattle between Kashmiri rebels and troops in northern Kupwara district this week. On Thursday, an army officer was killed in the same district in a clash with infiltrating militants.
"We have foiled yet another bid by militants to infiltrate into our territory from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," Indian army spokesman J.S. Brar told AFP in the state summer capital Srinagar.
"Two of our soldiers achieved martyrdom," he said, adding the fighting was "still going on in the rugged area."
India says it regularly intercepts Islamist rebels sneaking into Indian Kashmir to fight Delhi's rule in the scenic Himalayan territory. Pakistan denies Indian allegations it helps the insurgents cross into Indian Kashmir.
The latest fighting came after Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, outlined in Delhi this week the countries' commitment to fight militancy, boost trade and sustain the peace process.
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir which each country holds in part but claims in full.
The peace process was resumed after being suspended by India following the 2008 Mumbai attacks which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants killed 166 people.
The peace process was resumed after being suspended by India following the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed 166 people and which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
The insurgency against Delhi's rule has left more than 47,000 people dead since 1989, according to an official count.
