India has sent thousands of additional troops to its section of Kashmir, after a series of attacks by militants in recent weeks, Indian officials said on Wednesday.

New Delhi deploys nearly 500,000 soldiers and security forces in Kashmir, with the aim of "containing an insurgency" that seeks independence or annexation of the region to Pakistan.

"Around 2,500 troops have arrived, and they were deployed all over Kashmir valley," Abhiram Pankaj, a spokesman for the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force, confirmed to AFP, explaining that more troops are on their way there.

For his part, a policeman, who asked not to be named, told the agency that about 5,000 additional troops will be deployed this week, including those from the Indian Border Security.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan

It is noteworthy that the territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since its independence in 1947. Rebel groups have been fighting for more than 3 decades with Indian forces, demanding the independence of Kashmir or its annexation to Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers, and rebels have lost their lives in these years. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the militants.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist government angered many Kashmiris in 2019 by abolishing the semi-autonomous region.