4 Indian soldiers are killed in a shootout with suspected rebels in disputed Kashmir

NEW DELHI — NEW DELHI (AP) — Four Indian soldiers were killed in a shootout with suspected rebels fighting Indian rule in the disputed Kashmir region, the Indian military said Tuesday.

The soldiers were killed late Monday night when they were fired upon by militants hiding in the forests of southern Doda district in Jammu division, the Indian military said in a statement on social media platform X. Government troops were conducting a search based on intelligence inputs when the gunfight took place.

None of the insurgent groups immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack was the latest in a wave of violence in the region. Last week, five soldiers were killed in nearby Kathua district when suspected rebels ambushed an army vehicle. In June, nine people were killed when suspected insurgents opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims.

Since 1989, rebel groups have been fighting for the independence of Indian-controlled Kashmir or for unification with neighboring Pakistan. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the region either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

New Delhi insists that the insurgency in Kashmir is Pakistan-backed terrorism. Pakistan denies this charge, and most Kashmiris view the insurgency as a legitimate struggle for freedom.

Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government troops were killed in the conflict.

The nuclear powers India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim ownership of the entire territory.