India, UK push Kashmir wargames despite protests

Posted 09 26 2007 10:55PM

JAMMU (Reuters) - Indian and British troops are going ahead with their high-altitude wargames in disputed Kashmir despite protests from Pakistan and separatist groups, an Indian defence official said on Wednesday.

Elite forces from the two countries began training this month for mountain warfare in a three-week drill called "Himalayan Warrior" in the icy heights of Ladakh, upsetting Islamabad which also claims the region.

"The two sides have successfully carried out the first and second phase of the exercises and the last phase began on Tuesday," a senior Indian military official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

"These exercises will conclude on Oct. 10," he added.

The troops, which included nearly 120 men from Britain and nearly 140 from India, were training at an altitude of between 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) and 19,000 feet (5,800 metres) and were also sharing their experiences of battling "terrorism" in Kashmir and Afghanistan, he said.

"The sole objective of this exercise is to improve their endurance and survivability in high-altitude areas and tough climatic conditions," the officer said.

Indian defence forces have regularly been holding joint exercises with militaries from around the world since the early 1990s in what they say is an effort to learn new skills and allow them to operate jointly with other troops.

Similar wargames involving Indian and U.S. troops were held last year in Ladakh.

Pakistan this week said the exercises were not a "legal activity" as they were being held in what is internationally recognised as disputed territory.

On Wednesday, the United Jihad Council, a Pakistan-based alliance of Kashmiri militant groups, said: "Ladakh is part of disputed Kashmir and India-British joint military exercise in the region is clear violation of international laws".

Last week, Pakistan lodged a protest with India over a plan to open the Siachen Glacier, also in Kashmir, to trekkers. The two sides have faced off across the glacier, known as the world's highest battlefield, since 1984.

The South Asian neighbours began peace talks in 2004 after going to the brink of their fourth war in 2002.

The talks have led to an improvement in sporting, transport and diplomatic links, but there has been no substantial progress on the core dispute over Muslim-majority Kashmir.