Indian security forces say they have foiled an attempt by militants¹ to infiltrate² the international border in Indian-administered Kashmir.

印度安全保卫部队称，他们成功阻止激进分子潜入印度管辖的克什米尔地区国际边界的企图。

Hundreds of thousands of troops are based in Kashmir

A Border Security Force边防保安队 (BSF) officer said the militants had fired on Indian positions from the Pakistani side.

Security forces were carrying out search operations in the Kangral area where the incident took place, he said.

About 30,00 troops have been withdrawn³ from Indian-administered Kashmir as rebel attacks decrease.

The incident happened in the Kangral area, about 45km (28 miles) south-west of Jammu city, on Monday night.

Security forces returned fire开火还击 and the exchange continued till early Tuesday, BSF Deputy Inspector⁴ General JB Sangwan said.

"It appeared that a group of militants attempted to sneak偷偷地 into the Indian side which we have foiled阻止 effectively," he said.

One BSF soldier was killed and two were injured in firing on a post on the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday.

The LoC separates Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

A senior BSF official was killed in an explosion in the same area last month when he had gone there to investigate reports about infiltration渗透 by suspected militants from across the border.

Last week, Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said that about 30,00 troops had been withdrawn from Indian-administered Kashmir as attacks by separatists had decreased.

He said there had already been a significant reduction over the past two years and the government was willing to further reduce forces in the future.

However, an army official said the number of soldiers deployed⁷ along the Line of Control (LoC) would not be cut.