The militants, part of a group trying to infiltrate into Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani-zone of the divided state, were killed in northern Kupwara district, army spokesman AK Mathur told AFP.

Mathur said militant attempts to cross the ceasefire line in Kashmir increase in the summer as snow melts on mountain passes.

On Saturday, two Indian soldiers were killed and another wounded in two separate shooting and landmine attacks in Kupwara and southern Poonch districts, both bordering Pakistani Kashmir.

The attacks were claimed by hardline militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba in telephone calls to local media.

India and Pakistan fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since their independence in 1947.

India alleges that an Islamic separatist revolt in the part of Kashmir it administers is being fomented by militants infiltrating from Pakistan.

Islamabad denies charges of arming and funding the rebels, insisting it is doing what it can to prevent militants crossing over.

The insurgency launched against Indian rule in 1989 has claimed more than 42,000 lives by official count, although human rights groups put the number at 70,000.