Indian soldier dies in clashes with \\\'Pak militants\\\'

SRINAGAR, Aug 24 (AFP): India's army clashed with suspected Pakistani militants in Indian Kashmir close to the disputed border between the two rival countries, leaving one soldier dead, a military official said Sunday.

Soldiers encountered the militants-who had crossed the de facto border into Indian Kashmir's Keran sector, some 150 kilometres (93 miles) northwest of the main city of Srinagar-on Saturday night, the official said.

"In the resultant exchange of fire between army and terrorists, one soldier was injured who succumbed later (to his injuries)," defence spokesman Colonel N.N. Joshi said.

Joshi said another soldier was injured in a different clash with suspected militants on Sunday morning in a nearby forested area.

The violence comes after India last week called off high-level talks with Pakistan, scheduled to take place in Islamabad, angry that Pakistani officials had met with Kashmiri separatist leaders in New Delhi.

Pakistan described the cancellation of the talks as a "setback" for closer relations with India's new right-wing government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India's military says it has stepped up operations to flush out suspected Pakistani militants moving across the de facto border known as the Line of Control (LoC).

On Saturday, Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged fire along the border further south in the region of Jammu, resulting in four deaths and forcing villagers to flee their homes.