Twelve militants were killed on Saturday in four encounters with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, where a major infiltration bid was foiled along the Line of Control.

Also see: 4 soldiers killed in suicide attack  | Counter-insurgent killed

Security forces laid an ambush in Tangdhar area of Kupwara district and shot dead four infiltrators along the Line of Control early in the morning, official sources said.

Three militants were killed in an exchange of fire in Kalaroos area of the district, they said.

In Baramulla district, three militants, including a Pakistani national identified as Zahid Iqbal, were killed in  Hyderbaigh-Wusan area.

A defence spokesman in Delhi said the militants were Pakistani nationals and a large number of arms and ammunition
were seized from the encounter site.

In another exchange of fire lasting almost four hours, two militants were killed in Poonch district.

The gun battle broke out when a patrol party intercepted the militants near Betar around 0300 IST.