Militant 'admits Pakistani backing'

More than a million troops are massed on the border

India has produced what it says is firm evidence that Pakistan is sponsoring cross-border infiltration by militant Kashmiri separatists.

A man captured by its forces in Indian-administered Kashmir told reporters that he had received months of training from the Pakistani intelligence services before being sent to carry out a number of attacks.

Pakistan denies backing the militants

The man was said to have been captured after a gun battle near Jammu, in which three other militants were killed.

Delhi has repeatedly insisted it will not enter talks with Islamabad over the disputed territory of Kashmir until Pakistan stops backing militants - an accusation Pakistan denies.

The armed forces of the two countries continue to fire at one another across both the line of control in Kashmir and their international border.

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On Saturday, tensions rose further after Pakistan announced it had successfully test fired a medium-range ballistic missile. Both countries have nuclear capabilities.

The Pakistani military said its test of the Hatf-5 Ghauri missile "demonstrated Pakistan's determination to defend itself, strengthen national security and consolidate strategic balance in the region".

Bush and Putin fear all-out war between India and Pakistan

India was "not impressed" by the test-firing, a defence ministry spokesman said.

US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have expressed concern over the escalating tension in the region

While touring the Russian city of St Petersburg with Mr Putin, Mr Bush urged Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to prevent militant incursions into the disputed area.

"It's very important for President Musharraf to do what he said he was going to do... and that is to stop the incursions across the border," he said.

The US president said Washington was making it clear to both countries that "there's no benefit of a war, there's no benefit of a clash that could eventually lead to a broader war".

	Kashmir conflict: 1947 - India and Pakistan fight first war over disputed region 1965 - India blames Pakistan for insurgency, war breaks out again 1989 - Insurgency starts in Indian-administered Kashmir 1999 - Heavy clashes around Kargil in Indian-administered Kashmir Click here for Kashmir Q&A

Mr Putin said he had invited Mr Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to talks during a regional summit in Kazakhstan next month.

Pakistan's Information Minister Nisar Memon said his country welcomed the Russian initiative and would "respond positively".

But an Indian Government spokesman said it was unlikely that Mr Vajpayee and Mr Musharraf would meet during the summit.

The Indian leader has ruled out any talks before Islamabad takes concrete measures to rein in the militants.

India began the initial military build-up along the border after it said Pakistan had supported a bloody attack on the federal parliament in Delhi last December.

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