Two suspected militants were killed in a firefight with soldiers in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday, according to the defense ministry. The men were attempting to cross the de facto frontier between Pakistan and India when they were spotted by troops in thick foliage.
The defense spokesman stated that the infiltrators were challenged and responded by opening fire, resulting in a intense firefight. The region, particularly in the southern Hindu-majority region of Jammu, has experienced multiple clashes between insurgents and Indian security forces in recent months.
In a separate incident on Monday, five Indian security personnel were killed during a firefight with gunmen in Doda forest. Last month, nine Indian Hindu pilgrims were killed and many more injured in an attack on a bus in Reasi district.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, has been divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, with both countries claiming it in full. Rebel groups have been fighting for independence or merger with Pakistan since 1989, causing tens of thousands of civilian, soldier, and rebel casualties.
Both New Delhi and Islamabad have accused each other of supporting militancy and espionage to undermine their rival, leading to multiple conflicts over control of the region.
