20 Die in Attacks; Rebels Head for Afghanistan

Twenty people have died in separatist violence in Indian Kashmir over 24 hours, but officials say guerrilla violence has eased as Muslim fighters head for Afghanistan to prepare for a possible U.S. attack.

“On Monday, army soldiers foiled an infiltration bid and shot dead five militants at Machil sector,” an Indian army spokesman said, speaking of one of the incidents. The sector lies on the Line of Control that divides the Kashmir region, which both India and Pakistan claim.

Indian intelligence agencies reported last week that the leader of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, had appealed to militants in Kashmir to help defend Afghanistan.