NEW DELHI, India?India warned it will be ruthless in dealing with Islamic militant infiltrators entering from Pakistan, as the nations? forces exchanged fire Tuesday across the volatile border dividing Kashmir.

Tuesday?s gunfire came after the nuclear rivals exchanged the heaviest mortar and rocket fire of the year, Monday night. It accompanied a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region to calm tensions and shore up support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

Powell arrived in India?s capital, New Delhi, from Pakistan on Tuesday. He met with Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in the evening, and was to meet with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday.

The Indian military claimed that Pakistan infiltrators had crossed the border on Monday and it retaliated with force.