The pilot died when his MiG 21 collided with another MiG near the air force base in the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, Srinagar.

The pilot of the other plane was injured.

Reports said the planes collided shortly after take-off when one of them appeared to veer off course.

The authorities say it seemed to be an accident, but they did not rule out sabotage.

The Indian Air Force has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The wreckage of the planes was scattered across a kilometre, disrupting civilian air traffic into Srinagar.

Four Indian MiGs have crashed since June this year.

Elsewhere in Kashmir, an Indian army spokesman said three more members of the security forces had been killed overnight in separatist-linked violence.

Two security personnel were killed in the Baramulla district, and a soldier was killed in Doda.

Mortar exchanges

On Tuesday, six Pakistani soldiers were killed and a number wounded in heavy mortar exchanges with Indian troops along the Line of Control.

Exchanges of fire are a regular feature along the line between the two sides, but this was the most serious incident since fierce fighting stopped last month.

India launched a major offensive in the region in May to push hundreds of Pakistani-backed forces out of Indian-controlled territory.

India accuses Pakistan of backing separatist insurgencies - a charge which Pakistan denies.