SRINAGAR. Aug 7: Indian security force are searching for Afghan Mujahideen they believe have entered Indian-ruled Kashmir to help Muslim militants there, senior officials said Tuesday, reports Reuter.

The officials, who asked not to be Identified, said they had reliable reports that Afghan Mujahideen, veterans of the deoade-oid war against the Moscow-backed government in Kabul, had taken part tn recent militant operations;.

Spokesmen for leading Kashmir! militant groups denied Afghan involvement in the insurgency which police say has resulted in some 3.600 deaths since ft erupted In January. 1990.

But witnesses in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian-ruled Kashmir, and other major towns of the Kashmir valley said security forces were stopping and questioning anyone resembling an Afghan

Life in Kashmir valley towns came to a virtual standstill to day in response to a general strike called by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Its military commander. Yaseen Malik, 26. was caught along with other senior JKLF men in a raid on a house on the outskirts of Srinagar. He has been detained without trial under anti-terrorist laws ever since.

All shops were closed and only security force vehicles were seen on the roads of

Srinagar

The JKLF 1s the leading militant group fighting for a re-united, independent and secular Kashimlr. Other fundamentalist groups are fighting for a merger with Pakistan, which rules one third of the region

India accuses Islamabad of arming, training and guiding the Kashmiri rebels. Pakistan denies the charge, saying it gives only moral and diplomatic support

The JKLF has been com plaining for months that Pakistan is helping only the fundamentalists, especially the Hezb-Ul-Mujahldeen. the leading fundamentalist group.

Bitterness between the two groups erupted into gunfights on the streets of Srinagar in April and spokesmen said there were more clashes and some kidnappings last week.

Malik's successor as JKLF Commander. Javed Ahmed Mir. made a rare public appearance at Friday prayers in Srinagar* main mosque to denounce the Hexb-Ul-Mujahideen. which tn turn is-sued statements blaming the JKLF for the friction

However the two groups Issued a Joint statement on Monday night promising to re solve differences through a special committee, whose members were not identified.

The statement said the committee was authorised to investigate complaints and suggest punishments for those It deemed in the wrong