Indian army brings deadly two-week Kashmir operation to a close

At least eight alleged militants were killed, claims Indian Army.

SRINAGAR, INDIA: The Indian army called off a two-week operation to hunt down suspected rebels in disputed Kashmir on Tuesday after a series of gunbattles in which at least eight alleged militants were killed.

"I have given directions to call off the concerted search operation," Lieutenant General Sanjiv Chachra, a senior commander, told reporters after a visit to the de facto border that divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.

The general said that 59 heavy weapons had been recovered from the Keran area of Kashmir, along with a large amount of ammunition and rations.

Chachra claimed that markings on the weapons indicated the militants had received help from the Pakistani army for their "infiltration" operation, but did not explain how.

"It could not be possible without their support," the general further claimed at a press conference in Srinagar, but no further details were provided.

Last week, another senior commander claimed 12 militants were killed in a firefight near an abandoned village in the densely-forested area, but Chachra said only eight bodies had been recovered from the scene.

"No other bodies have been found," Chachra said at the end of the two week operation.

The Indian army alleges there is a long-established pattern of increased infiltration attempts from the Pakistani side of the the Line of Control (LoC) before heavy snows close the Himalayan passes.

Foreign ministiry spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in response to Indian Army Chief's accusation on LoC infiltration said, "the menace of terrorism cannot be defeated by indulging in blame game. Pakistan remains committed to meaningful engagement with India to defeat terrorism which is our common enemy."

Chachra also denied that the militants had at any point occupied any forward posts or taken over any Indian-controlled territory in Keran. It was rumoured that the militants had managed to exercise control over one village and some check posts.

"The sanctity of the LoC is well maintained. We are prepared for the challenges," he stated.

The latest fighting near the LoC followed talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh last month on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly in New York.

The two leaders agreed to task their respective military commanders to defuse tensions along the LoC, where regular firefights between the two armies have taken place since January, resulting in deaths on both sides.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory with both claiming it in full.