Firing on India-Pakistan border as rebels try to sneak in

Sep 27, 2008, 8:35 GMT

Srinagar, Kashmir - Indian troops on Saturday foiled an infiltration attempt by suspected Muslim militants who tried to sneak into the state of Jammu and Kashmir under cover of firing by Pakistani forces, Indian officials said.

Indian positions came under gunfire from Pakistani Rangers in the Akhnoor sector, 35 kilometres west of the state's winter capital of Jammu in the early hours of Saturday.

'A group of 12 militants tried to enter Indian territory from across Pakistan and opened fire and threw grenades,' a defence spokesman said.

'The Border Security Force personnel retaliated and the firing went on for nearly four hours. The troops were able to beat the militants who escaped back to the Pakistani side,' he said.

There was no loss of life or injury in the cross-border firing and searches were being conducted in the area.

The Indian side alleged that Pakistani troops had committed ceasefire violation again.

The Indian government claims that there have been more than 30 violations of a five-year ceasefire by Pakistani troops since January this year.

On August 25, five people including an army officer were killed near the Jammu city by three militants who had infiltrated under cover of Pakistani firing.

The three militants were killed in combat later.

Nuclear-capable neighbours India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in a violent separatist militant movement in India-administered Kashmir since the late 1980s.

India accuses Pakistan of aiding Kashmiri militants, a charge Islamabad denies, calling them freedom fighters. India and Pakistan are currently engaged in a dialogue to resolve differences, including those over Kashmir.