Ever since the armed separatist campaign in Indian administered Kashmir began in 1989, civilians have often been the victims.

The overwhelming majority of these deaths have been blamed on the security forces, who are alleged by the separatist movement to have fired indiscriminately when they have been attacked by militants.

Civilians are increasingly targeted

Recently, however, there have been several examples of civilian villagers - usually Hindus - being shot in cold blood by Kashmiri militants.

At the beginning of August, 19 Muslims were shot as they slept by unidentified gunmen. A day before, 35 Hindus were killed near the border with Kashmir in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

In June and July more than 50 Hindu villagers were killed in separate attacks in the district of Doda in the southern part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Although there have been incidents of civilians being killed by militants in the past, the frequency of the killings has undoubtedly spiralled.

A respite for Srinagar

And that is not the only change in the militant campaign. Much of it is now targetted outside the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, Srinagar.

Ruined homes near Srinagar

In the early 1990s, the level of violence in the city meant a heavy security presence and constant curfews.

While troops are still visible on the streets, Srinagar today is a markedly more relaxed place.

It is areas outside Srinagar, such as Doda, where much of Kashmir's insurgency is now being fought.

One reason put forward for this is the awareness of the militants of a growing sense of war weariness among the people of the Kashmir valley.

In effect, the argument goes, the militants want to give these people a respite.

Foreign fighters

The other noticeable change in Kashmiri militancy is the growth of the Lashkar-e-Toyeba group - comprised mostly of foreign fighters.

This organisation, along with Harkat-al-Ansar and Hizbul Mujahideen, is now among the three most powerful militant groups in Kashmir. Between them, they have thousands of members.

Of the trio, only Hizbul Mujahideen is overtly pro-Pakistan. The others have stressed they want to rid Kashmir of India's presence, without giving clear policy details beyond that.

In the early 1990s, there were at least 10 militant groups operating in Kashmir, but the power of these groups is now thought to have waned.

The top three groups are reticent about the concept of Kashmiri independence - much talked about at the start of the militant campaign by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

The JKLF was at the vanguard of the militant campaign in the early years, but has now renounced violence and is a political group.

Rise of pro-India militants

Another twist to militancy in Kashmir has been the rise over the last three years of pro-India militants. These are former militants who have allegedly surrendered to the authorities and swapped sides.

Indian soldier takes aim

They are held responsible for a considerable number of shootings and extortion rackets, and are believed by many Kashmiris to be sponsored by the security forces.