Thousands of Indian tourists, pilgrims and workers began leaving the disputed region of Kashmir after a local government alert over possible militant attacks, while India said it killed at least five militants who were trying to attack its forces.

Key points: Indian officials said they found evidence of planned attacks, including a mine with Pakistani markings

Indian officials said they found evidence of planned attacks, including a mine with Pakistani markings A major Hindu pilgrimage to Kashmir has been called off but some foreign tourists continue to arrive

A major Hindu pilgrimage to Kashmir has been called off but some foreign tourists continue to arrive Pakistan rejects Indian accusations it is backing militants in the disputed region

Indian security officials said they had found evidence of attacks planned by what they said were Pakistani military-backed militants on a major Hindu pilgrimage in Muslim-majority Kashmir.

A local government order effectively called off the pilgrimage, asking the pilgrims and tourists to return home.

Srinagar-based Indian defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said there had been several attempts by Pakistan-based militants to disturb peace in the Kashmir region and target the pilgrims.

Around five to seven militants were killed when they tried to attack Indian troops near an area known as the Keran sector, Colonel Kalia said, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered in the operation.

"Security forces will continue to respond to all nefarious activities," he said.

A Pakistani defence spokesperson dismissed India's assertions as "mere propaganda", calling them "blatant lies".

A senior local government official in Kashmir said the local government advisory had caused panic and led to the departure of "thousands" of tourists, pilgrims and labourers.

The official did not give a specific number, but he said most of the 20,000 Hindu pilgrims and Indian tourists and the more than 200,000 labourers were leaving the region.

Kashmir, claimed by both India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint between the two countries. Tensions flared after a vehicle laden with explosives rammed into an Indian police convoy on February 14, killing 40 paramilitary policemen and leading to aerial clashes between the two nations.

India accuses Pakistan of funding armed militants, as well as separatist groups in India's portion of the region. Islamabad denies the Indian accusation, saying it provides only diplomatic and moral support to the separatist movement.

In a statement, the Pakistani Government said it was concerned about the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, adding it rejects India's assertions of "intelligence inputs" about some imminent attack.

The Pakistani Foreign Minister has voiced concern in letters to the United Nations secretary-general and the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly, it said.

6,000 flee, but international tourists continue to arrive

The Indian advisory was issued after the local government in Kashmir said a mine with Pakistani ordnance markings was among caches of ammunition found by local troops.

The local government said it had intelligence reports of likely attacks on routes used by devout Hindus who trek to the region's holy Amarnath cave every year.

The Indian Army said it had found caches of arms and ammunition along the Amarnath route. ( AP: Dar Yasin )

"The advisory has led to panic among people and the visitors here. Kashmir has seen worst times but we as government officials don't know what is happening," said a second local government official in Kashmir.

In a mood of anxiety, people sought to stock up on essentials and there were long queues outside petrol pumps, ATMs and medical shops in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir state.

More than 6,000 passengers left Srinagar by air on Saturday, the Airports Authority of India said in a statement.

Still, around 60 international tourists arrived in Kashmir on Saturday, one of the local government officials said.

The Indian advisory had cautioned tourists in general but did not give any specific advice to foreign nationals.

Britain and Germany issued advisories to their citizens discouraging them from travelling to Jammu & Kashmir.

'Paradise on Earth'

Pakistan also accused India of using illegal cluster bombs in the Kashmir region during shelling along the contested border. India denied those accusations.

The Indian advisory was a disappointment for pilgrims and tourists.

Kashmir bills itself as "Paradise on Earth" and Dal Lake is a major attraction. ( AP: Dar Yasin )

Kashmir touts itself as a "Paradise on Earth" and Dal Lake — a favourite destination centuries ago for Mughal emperors escaping the summer heat of India's plains — and its famous houseboats, mountains and glaciers are major attractions.

Prabakar Iyer, 45, had travelled to Srinagar from the southern Indian city of Bangalore on Thursday with his family for a 10-day holiday, but they left on Friday night.

"I was staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake when the advisory was issued. I fail to understand why we are being asked to leave. Everything is normal here," he said.

Labourer Manjit Singh, a carpenter from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh who has been working in Kashmir for the last nine years, also left.

"I am not afraid but the government advisory has created panic and my family wants me back … I will return if the situation improves," he said.

Reuters