NEW DELHI, June 9 (1991): An Indian soldier was killed in a three-hour exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers in the disputed Kashmir region, an Indian defence ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

He said Friday’s clash was started by Pakistani troops providing covering fire for militants crossing the ceasefire line into India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, where extremists are fighting in a separatist revolt.

“We retaliated and this went on for about two to three hours,” he said, adding: “There has been no escalation of tension after that.”

Pakistan denies Indian charges that it arms and trains militants waging an 18-month-old insurgency to demand Kashmir’s independence or merger with Pakistan.