HIGHLIGHTS: Attacks Could Disrupt State Elections Being Organized by India||Elections Seen By India as Prelude for Talks on Kashmir With Pakistan||Pakistan Says People of Kashmir Have a Right to Self Determination|| STORY: Armed Kashmiri nationalist groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir pledged on Friday to keep up their revolt, a move that could disrupt state elections seen by New Delhi as key to bringing peace to the region

The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen fighters group, based in Pakistan, made its statement after a fresh surge of Resistance attacks in Indian-ruled Kashmir -- at the heart of a military stand-off between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.

Indian police said 19 people, including eight from the Indian security forces, died in various incidents on Thursday, including one attack claimed by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

The fresh surge in Resistance attacks coincided with a call by the Group of Eight rich nations for Pakistan to put a stop to extremist groups using the country as a base and for both Pakistan and India to get down to serious talks.

ONLY ONE PARTY DUE TO CONTEST ELECTIONS SO FAR

India says it is determined to stem violence in its side of Kashmir -- where at least 33,000 have died in a 12-year revolt against Indian rule -- to pave the way for elections in Jammu and Kashmir state due in September or October.

It sees the elections as a means of legitimising its rule in Kashmir, which India considers an integral part of the country. Pakistan says Kashmiris should be allowed a plebiscite to decide whether they want to join India or Pakistan.

India sees peaceful elections as a possible prelude to talks with Pakistan. But any fresh violence that disrupts the poll -- especially if India believes it is encouraged by Pakistan -- could stoke tension again.

Even before the vote, both countries are under strong international pressure to begin talks over Kashmir to reduce the risk of a conflict that could escalate into the world's first nuclear war.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has vowed "free and fair" elections in Kashmir.

But so far, only one party, the ruling National Conference, is due to contest the elections, with separatist leaders refusing to take part. About a dozen groups are battling Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Kashmiri nationalist is questioned by an Indian security force soldier at a check point in central Srinagar, India, Friday, June 28, 2002. Security has been beefed up in the Kashmiri region after armed Kashmiri nationalist groups intensified their attack on them. Dozens of such groups have fought since 1989 for the independence of India's portion of Kashmir or its merger with Islamic Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqboo