Seven militants, six of them foreigners, and an army jawan were killed and twelve others including eight civilians injured in three separate encounters across the Valley in Jammu and Kashmir [Images], police said in Srinagar [Images] on Saturday.

Based on specific information that a group of militants were moving in high altitude region between Bandipora and Kangan, the army launched a search and destroy operation on Friday, a police spokesman said.

He said four foreign militants, whose identity and group affiliation was being ascertianed, have been shot dead so far while an army jawan was also killed in the gunbattle in the area where search operations were going on.

In another encounter, security forces shot dead two militants, including a Pakistani national, in Kenigam village of Rajpora area in Pulwama district, the spokesman said.

He said the slain militants have been identified as Pak national Adnan and Showkat Ahmad -- a local militant -- belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit.

Two AK rifles, one pistol, two hand grenades and two wireless sets were recovered from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said, adding during searches, an explosive device went off, causing injuries to eight persons standing nearby.

Four security force personnel were injured in the gunbattle.

A Pakistani militant of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba was shot dead by security forces at Phalmarg forests in Vilgam area Kupwara district, he said.

One AK rifle, three magazines and 38 rounds were recovered from the possession of the slain militant, he added.