SRINAGAR, Jan 27: The number of daily militancy-related killings in occupied Kashmir has fallen by more than two-thirds -- from 10 to three -- since 2001, a top official said on Saturday.

“There has been a steady decline each year in the killings of civilians, members of security forces and Muslim militants in Kashmir,” occupied Kashmir governor Srinawas Kumar Sinha said in a statement.

“The killings have come down from 10 a day in 2001 to three a day in 2006,”Sinha said, adding the “three-a-day figure is the lowest” since Kashmir freedom fighters launched an uprising against Indian troops in 1989.

The uprising began as an independence movement but now most of the militant groups want occupied Kashmir to become part of Pakistan.

The movement has left more than 44,000 people dead by official count.

Separatists put the toll at twice as high.

Kashmir analysts attribute the decline to a three-year-old peace process between India and Pakistan aimed at settling all their disputes.—AFP