Suspected Islamic militants opened fire on bus passengers and attacked an army camp in Indian Kashmir on Tuesday, killing nearly 30 men, women and children before being gunned down, the army said. (Read photo caption)It was the bloodiest attack in nearly eight months in the region, the focus of a military buildup between India and Pakistan, and coincided with a visit to New Delhi by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca to try to ease tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors. (Read: USA Concerned About Tensions in Sub-Continent at ISLAMIC WORLD, Channel)

Indian analysts said the raid would increase pressure on the Indian government to act against Pakistan-based Muslim fighters, but said they did not expect an immediate military response

Three militants, wearing army uniforms, opened fire inside a bus near the Ratnachak army camp killing several passengers. They ran off the bus and into the camp to an area housing family quarters, workshops and canteens.

The militants, suspected members of Islamic groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, were killed four hours after the start of the attack, in which 32 people, including the three raiders, died, an army spokesman in New Delhi said.

It was the bloodiest attack in Kashmir since 38 people were killed in a suicide raid on the state assembly in October.

PHOTO CAPTION

Nazir Ahmad Ronga, president of the Kashmir Bar Association, shouts slogans against the Gujarat government in the premises of the court in Srinagar,India, Friday, May 10, 2002. Kashmiri Muslim lawyers were protesting against the killing of Muslims in Gujarat. At least 940 people, mostly Muslims, have been killed in ongoing religious violence in the western Gujarat state. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)