This would leave the predominantly Muslim Northern Areas as part of Pakistan and Buddhist Ladakh and majority Hindu Jammu as part of India, with the possibility that some Muslim districts of Jammu might also opt to join the independent state.

BBC: Scenario five: A smaller independent Kashmir

India repeatedly claimed that Pakistani forces belonging to the northern light infantry, based in the Pakistani-administered Northern Areas, were engaged in the operations - a claim Pakistan consistently denied.

BBC: Kargil conflict

The UK Foreign Office has now warned British citizens not to travel to Pakistan and for those in North-West Frontier Province, Baluchistan and the Northern Areas to leave immediately.

CNN: UK supports bin Laden theory