Harkat-al-Mujahideen (is) one of the groups that recruits, trains and arms the fighters for Kashmir. Volunteers sleep, eat and pray in its unfurnished rooms while waiting for transport to the Line of Control - the de facto border that has split Kashmir between India and Pakistan since 1949. (It claims that) six British nationals of Pakistani origin were fighting the Indians with his organisation.

The Islamic militants are a mixed bunch. Many are Kashmiri Muslims fighting what they see as a war to free their homeland. For others, home is far away. The Indians refers to the militants as Pakistan's Foreign Legion. The reference is not only to their varied origin but also to the fact that many are paid to fight. The going rate for a three-month tour of duty in Kashmir is between £1,000 and £3,000. There are recruits from almost every country with a substantial Muslim population ...

There are 13 main militant groups and most of those engaged in the battle near Kargil in Kashmir are from the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba ... based in Muridke, near Lahore. The Lashkar is known to have strong links with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), the powerful and secretive agency widely believed to be masterminding the militants' operations.

Indian officials say they have intercepted radio messages in.Pashto proving that many of the militants are Taliban militiamen from Afghanistan ... (Source: The Independent, London)