Asia

Soldiers search Kashmir frontier after 2 gunbattles end

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Pakistani supporters of All Parties Hurriyat Conference stand outside the Foreign Office protest in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Protesters gathered to express solidarity with Kashmiris who are resisting Indian rule. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash) (The Associated Press)

Pakistani supporters of All Parties Hurriyat Conference pray for Kashmiris standing outside the Foreign Office protesting in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Protesters gathered to express solidarity with Kashmiris who are resisting Indian rule. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash) (The Associated Press)

Indian Muslim women hold placards and shout slogans against Pakistan during a protest against Sunday's attack on an Indian army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Sunday's attack heightened tensions between India and Pakistan and provoked calls for revenge, with New Delhi blaming Islamabad-backed militants for the deadly strike, an allegation Pakistan strongly denied. Placards in Gujarati from left to right read, "Down with Pakistan, Down with Nawaz Sharif," "India will not tolerate bullying of Pakistan," "shoot agents of Pakistan," "India will not tolerate bullying of Pakistan," and "where is? where is? where is? 56 inch chest." (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) (The Associated Press)

The Indian army says its soldiers are searching areas near the de facto border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan where two gunbattles with suspected rebels raged for half a day.

Army spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said Wednesday that the clashes, which started midday Tuesday, ended late at night.

He said two groups of militants had infiltrated into the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir from the Pakistani-held part near Uri region and Nowgam sector.

One Indian soldier was killed in the fighting.

The clashes came three days after four suspected rebels killed 18 Indian soldiers in an audacious attack on a crucial military base in Uri. The militants were also killed in the attack.