Srinagar, Kashmir - Five Muslim militants and four soldiers were killed as fighting between security forces and rebels hiding in dense forests in India-administered Kashmir entered a fifth day on Tuesday, officials said.

Four troopers succumbed to injuries sustained during combat in the Hafrooda forests in northern Kupwara district on Monday, defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel JS Brar told reporters.

Five militants were also killed in the clashes on Monday raising the number of slain militants to 11.

Acting on a tip about the presence of militant groups in the region, located some 80 kilometres north of state capital Srinagar, the Indian army launched an offensive on Friday.

"So far, 19 people, including an army major, seven soldiers and 11 militants were killed in the encounter which is still continuing in the forested region," Brar said.

Army officials said the encounter was expected to continue as more militant groups were believed to be hiding in the area.

The identity of the slain rebels was not known yet but it was believed that they had infiltrated from Pakistan-administered Kashmir into the Indian side.

The disputed Kashmir region is divided into two parts, one administered by India, the other by Pakistan. The neighbours have fought two wars over the region.

India says militants trained and supported by Pakistan regularly infiltrate its part of Kashmir to launch attacks. Pakistan denies the charge and calls the insurgents freedom fighters.

On the weekend, the Indian army alleged that Pakistani troops had fired at frontline Indian positions in the Uri sector since Friday night.

Officials told news channels that Pakistani forces had fired weapons to provide cover to the militants infiltrating the troubled region.

More than 45,000 people have died in India-administered Kashmir since the violent secessionist militant movement emerged in the 1980s.