India on alert against militant infiltration in Kashmir after quake

NEW DELHI, Monday (AFP) Indian troops are on heightened alert to prevent Islamic militants from taking advantage of the chaos in quake-shattered Kashmir and crossing the border in the divided territory, the military said Sunday.

"We have stepped up guard at the Line of Control and nearly 25 militants were killed during infiltration bids in the last 10 days," General J.J Singh was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying.

He said troops engaged in relief work in earthquake-devastated areas were keeping an eye out for militants trying to sneak into Indian Kashmir.

India accuses Pakistan of training, arming and funding an Islamic rebellion, a charge Islamabad denies. It admits, however, to extending "moral, political and diplomatic support" to Kashmiris seeking independence from India.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the insurgency in Indian Kashmir in 1989.

"Militants have made about five infiltration attempts since the October 8 earthquake, including two on a single day," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"Some of them wanted to take advantage of the disturbed situation."

The defence minister said the presence of civilians among the troops for rescue and relief work could help the militants to cross the de facto border.

Mukherjee said the next five to seven days could see more crossing attempts, after which infiltration would become difficult due to winter snowfall blocking mountain passes.

The defence minister said India was also trying to verify reports that several militant hideouts in the Pakistani zone of Kashmir had been destroyed in the quake.