This was disclosed by BSF inspector general, Frontiers, A S Mangat while briefing a team of mediapersons here.

He said there has been a sudden drop in the infiltration of Afghanis in May, 1998 and at least 90 per cent of the foreigners present in the Valley are Pakistani nationals. ``The foreign militants are mostly hiding in the Lolab Valley in frontier Kupwara district and in Bandipore heights. The local cadre is not actively involved in militancy but are being mostly used as guides,'' he said. ``But, these guides are more essential than the foreign militants as they make the backbone of all their activities. The very reason why so many foreign militants were trapped in Jaggarpora village was that they had lost contact with their local guides,'' Mangat said.

He said that approximately 600militants were operating in the Valley.

The IG said that there are no reports regarding the presence of any Afghani belonging to the Taliban militia in the Baramulla-Kupwara frontier range and said there will be no impact of Taliban even if it tries to infiltrate into the Valley. ``The basic reason is the difference in the geography of Pakistan-Afghanistan border and our border with Pakistan. They could easily infiltrate even regiments into Afghanistan but here they have to try to come in small batches. And, it will create no strategic security threat to us,'' he said.

He said that seven BSF personnel lost their lives in recent Pakistani artillery shelling.

Giving details of the BSF operations during the past several months, the IG said his troops killed 45 militants, apprehended 51 besides arranging the surrender of 10 others in the twin districts of Baramulla and Kupwara. ``We also recovered two anti-aircraft guns, 110 AK rifles, 14 UMG, 15 rocket launchers, 35 pistols and 33,000 rounds ofammunition,'' he said.

Responding to a question regarding involvement of the surrendered militants in their counter insurgency operations, he they don't use them. ``We generally discourage their involvement with us as they are very difficult to be tackled,'' he said.