Simply, it is the widespread belief that militants fighting the Indian state, militants fighting to free "Indian-held Kashmir", militants fighting the Afghan government and militants fighting to "free" Afghanistan are not militants.
They were also used to kill British militants fighting in Syria.
3.48pm BST Iraqi militants 'fighting for Assad' Suadad al-Salhy, a Reuters journalist, reports on "scores" of Iraqi Shia militants fighting in Syria, often alongside President Assad's troops.
The United States says many Islamic militants fighting American troops in Iraq have come via Syria.
"In these places," Colonel Surche said, "the population rises up with the militants, fighting alongside them".
Pakistan sees the militants fighting in Kashmir as freedom fighters, but denies providing any material support.
Indian officials in Srinagar blamed militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir for the grenade attacks there.
Officials said the men were separatist Islamic militants fighting Indian rule of Kashmir.
If known militants fighting with extremist groups choose not to return, he called for the removal of their British citizenship.
Having joined the "war on terror", the general reined in Islamist militants fighting India in the disputed Kashmir region.
Their disappearance came in a week that saw the reported death of two British militants fighting with extremist groups abroad.
