Officials in Pakistan say militants have mounted more attacks on government forces in a rebel stronghold near the border with Afghanistan.

Fazl Rabi, a local police official, said troops repelled an overnight attack by 50 militants on a camp north of Khar, the capital of the Bajur region.

The Indian army accused Pakistan of a "serious" ceasefire violation along the de facto border dividing Kashmir between the two nations after a gunbattle left two soldiers dead.

Pakistan lawmakers started voting Saturday in a presidential election that slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari is widely expected to win. Zardari is the clear favourite in a three-way race to take power in the frontline state in the US-led "war on terror," a country riven by Islamic militancy and economic turmoil.

Pakistan is suspending a major military operation against insurgents during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a top official said Sunday, adding that the country is not taking orders from the United States in its fight against militancy.

Pakistan's political turmoil deepened Tuesday after the two main parties in the ruling coalition split, weakening the fragile government just a week after president Pervez Musharraf resigned.