Pakistan based militant group Hizbul Muzahideen on Tuesday confirmed that its top commander, Saiful Rahman Islam, had been killed in an operation by Indian troops in Kashmir on Sunday.

Hizbul spokesman Salim Hashmi, in a statement from Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) said Rafiul Islam had been appointed as the new military chief adviser.

"We announce with deep sorrow and pain that our chief military adviser Saiful Rahman has been martyred by Indian troops on Sunday evening," Hashmi said in a statement.