Indian border guards kill intruder on Kashmir border

Indian border guards on Thursday killed an intruder on the International Border near Kashmir, India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said.

The intruder was gunned down in the Samba sector, about 310 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Quoting sources in India's Border Security Force, the broadcaster said the intruder crossed into the Indian side.

"The troops guarding the border observed that an infiltrator crossed into the Indian territory at the Chilyari border outpost this morning," AIR said. "The troops challenged the infiltrator but he continued proceeding into the Indian side, after which the troops had to open fire."

The identity of the slain trooper was being ascertained.

A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight takes place intermittently across the region.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of sending armed militants to Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, Islamabad says it only provides moral and political support to Kashmiris.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endi