Kashmir Mosque Burns Down in Battle

SRINAGAR, India —  A 15th-Century mosque went up in flames Thursday during a gun battle between Muslim separatists and Indian troops in Kashmir, igniting a wave of unrest and threatening India’s plans to seek a political end to the 5-year-old insurrection in the Himalayan state.

At least 21 people were killed in the fighting.

The venerated mosque and tomb of Kashmir’s patron saint burned to the ground at the climax of a two-month standoff between militants occupying the wooden building in Char-e-sharif and troops surrounding it.

Fighting in the holy town had begun Monday night, setting much of Char-e-sharif ablaze and sending most of its 25,000 residents fleeing. More than 1,500 homes and businesses were destroyed.