Militants on Wednesday morning ambushed an army convoy, killing one trooper and wounding 10 others on the Srinagar Leh national highway.
Police said militants fired from their automatic weapons at the heavily guarded convoy of the army near village Ganiwan, 50 km from Srinagar in north Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
"One army soldier died on the spot while 10 others sustained bullet injuries in the attack. All the injured have been removed to hospital for treatment. The condition of four is stated to be serious," a senior police officer said.
The attack on the strategic highway led to suspension of the traffic on the busy highway and the convoy was also halted following the attack.
Army and paramilitary reinforcements rushed to the area are conducting searches, but no arrests have been made so far.
The attack on the Ladakh highway comes on a day defence authorities threw open Siachen Glacier to domestic tourists.
A group of 20 domestic tourists are undertaking trekking and mountaineering in the area.
The expedition, first to the area has been organised by the army.
The glacier is situated at 16,000 ft above the sea level.