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London: Al Qaeda militants, who have been on the run since the United States crackdown in Afghanistan, are re-grouping in Pakistan and using Kashmir as a recruiting ground, according to intelligence reports received here by the British Government.

British officials said they have also reasons to believe that at least 1,000 Al Qaeda elements and its sympathisers have already moved into Iraq and helping out supporters of ousted President Saddam Hussain in fighting the US-led forces.

"Though still indigenously driven, insurgency in Iraq is gaining momentum," warned a senior British Government official adding mainly it was being pursued by Saddam loyalists.

The Al Qaeda militants were being joined by 'foreign jihadis' in Iraq, the official told a group of visiting Indian journalists.

Though the Pakistani regime under President Pervez Musharraf is taking some steps to round up such elements, many have succeeded in re-grouping in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, he said.

PTI