One soldier died in a gunfight between troops and Islamic rebels near the ceasefire Line of Control in Poonch district in southwest Indian-administered Kashmir, some 225 kilometres (140 miles) from the state's winter capital Jammu.

"Indian troops opened fire when a group of militants tried to sneak into Poonch sector from across the Line-of-Control," defence ministry spokesman Colonel SD Goswami told AFP in Jammu.

Goswami added in a statement that one soldier died in the exchange.

Another soldier was killed and one seriously wounded died in a mine explosion along the Line of Control in northern Kupwara district, army spokesman A.K. Mathur told AFP in the summer capital Srinagar.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the region since 1947.

India alleges that an Islamic separatist revolt in the part of Kashmir it administers is being fomented by militants infiltrating from Pakistan.

Islamabad denies charges of arming and funding the rebels, insisting it is doing what it can to prevent militants crossing over to sustain the insurgency launched against Indian rule in 1989.

The unrest has claimed more than 42,000 lives by official count, although human rights groups put the number at 70,000.