JAMMU, 27 September 2007 — Indian and British troops are going ahead with their high-altitude war games in disputed Kashmir despite protests from Pakistan and separatist groups, an Indian defense official said yesterday.

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 meters) and 19,000 feet (5,800 meters) 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.

Pakistan this week said the exercises were not a “legal activity” as they were being held in what is internationally recognized 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.”

In another development, a trekking expedition left for the heavily-militarized Siachen glacier in disputed Kashmir, despite objections by Pakistan.

“The first of its kind expedition left for Siachen glacier on Tuesday,” Indian Army spokesman Lt. Col. Anil Mathur told AFP.

He said the 43-member team included civilians, men from the army, journalists and students from several military training schools. Mathur said it would take some 20 days for the trekkers to make the trip to the 6,300-meter (20,800-feet) high Siachen glacier, a battlefield occupied by Indian and Pakistani troops since 1984.