SRINAGAR: Indian soldiers killed two suspected militants early on Friday in a gunbattle in India-held Kashmir near the de-facto border with Pakistan, an army spokesman said.

Soldiers and police launched an overnight operation in Peethawada area, 70km northwest of Srinagar, after receiving a tip-off that militants were hiding in a village.

“Two terrorists were killed in the operation,” army spokesman Colonel N.N. Joshi said.

Several militant groups have for decades been fighting Indian forces deployed in the disputed Himalayan region, for independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.

Violence in the territory has declined during the last decade, but armed encounters between militants and government forces occur regularly.

In February nine people including three Indian army commandos were killed during a stand-off between militants and government forces that lasted three days.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016