*SRINAGAR*: India’s home ministry says government troops in held Kashmirhave been asked to stop counter-insurgency operations during the Muslimfasting month of Ramzan.

The ministry in a series of tweets on Wednesday said the decision was madeso that Muslims can observe the holy month “in a peaceful environment”.

Another tweet said Indian troops “reserve the right to retaliate ifattacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people”.

No separatist group fighting against Indian rule immediately issued anystatement about the announcement.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but bothclaim it in its entirety.

Separatists have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding India heldKashmir be made part of Pakistan or unified with Azad Jammu and Kashmir asan independent country.