Srinagar, Kashmir - Four Indian soldiers including a major and six suspected Muslim militants were killed in clashes in India-administered Kashmir, a defence spokesman said Sunday.

Acting on a tip about the presence of militant groups in the Hafrooda forests in the northern Kupwara district, a team of the army and police launched the operation on Friday evening.

Militants hiding in the forests opened fire resulting in the gunbattles in the area, situated some 80 kilometres north of state capital Srinagar, officials said.

"While three militants were killed on Friday, an army major, three soldiers and three rebels died in another gun battle from Saturday to Sunday morning," defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel JS Brar told reporters.

The official said fighting was continuing in two different places in the forested region and additional troops were dispatched.

The identity of the slain militants was not known immediately but it is believed that they were part of a group that 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 Saturday, 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. (dpa)