'SAS in Kashmir hunt for bin Laden'

SAS soldiers are reportedly hunting for Osama bin Laden in Kashmir.

It follows intelligence reports he is being protected by an extremist Islamic group there.

The troops are said to be taking part in a joint 40-man operation with their United States equivalent, Delta Force.

It is believed bin Laden is in hiding in the disputed state of Kashmir, which has been the centre of heightened tension between India and Pakistan in recent months.

The decision to send British special forces followed a trip to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan by Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and a similar visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Indian intelligence reports told the CIA it was believed bin Laden was being given protection by the Islamic guerilla group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

The group may have smuggled bin Laden from Afghanistan during the US bombardment of the country into a remote area of Kashmir.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We never discuss the activities of the special forces."