SRINAGAR, Sept 28: An Indian soldier and 11 Muslim militants were killed in fighting in occupied Kashmir, police said on Sunday.

Seven militants and an Indian army soldier were killed in protracted gunbattles in the forests of Kangan, northeast of Srinagar, army spokesman Anil Kumar Mathur said.

“We expect more militants in the area, hence searches are still on,” he said.

Four other militants were killed in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley in two battles, a police statement said.

“One of the dead militants was identified as Abu Khubaib, a Pakistani,” the statement said, adding he was serving as a “launching commander” for hardline group Lashkar-i-Toiba.

“He used to receive and launch militants who would cross the Line of Control,” it said.—AFP