Two soldiers, two terrorists killed in an ongoing encounter in Kupwara in J&K

Srinagar: At least two soldiers and two terrorists were killed in an encounter at Handwara in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, army said on Friday.

The encounter broke out in Laribal village of Zachaldara in Handwara after security forces launched an operation, an army officer said.

In the ensuing gunbattle, two unidentified terrorists and two soldiers were killed so far. The operation is still in progress as there were inputs about the presence of other terrorists in the area, the officer added.

The encounter comes at a time when India and Pakistan on Thursday agreed to maintain peace along the border. Both the sides agreed to open more channels of communication in an effort to take the strained relationship forward.

Both countries on Thursday began a three-day DG-level border dialogue. A 16-member Pakistani delegation on Thursday reached the BSF headquarters for the talks that are being held between after a gap of over one-and-a-half years.

The meeting between the Rangers and the BSF was one of the three key meetings agreed upon between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif when they met in Ufa in Russia in July.