SRINAGAR, India, April 17 (AFP) - Dejected Kashmiri supporters of Pakistan’s cricketers Saturday tried to put India’s victory in a historic series behind them, as Indian troops in the divided territory celebrated.

"I am disappointed by the way Pakistani players played in the series," said Imtiaz Ahmed, a taxi driver in Srinagar, summer capital of the restive Indian zone of Kashmir.

"I want to forget the bitter memories of the defeat as soon as possible."

India defeated Pakistan by an innings and 131 runs in the third and final Test to clinch the series 2-1 in Rawalpindi.

India also won the one-day series to make it a clean sweep in their first full tour of Pakistan since 1989 — the year an insurgency broke out in Indian Kashmir seeking to make it either part of Pakistan or independent.

India and Pakistan both hold Kashmir in part and claim it in full.

"It was a tame surrender by Pakistani players," said high school student Nyla Ahmed, blaming Pakistan for poor batting starting on the first day of the last test.

"None of the batsmen, including (Pakistan captain) Inzamam-ul-Haq, showed resilence to stay at the crease like (Indian vice-captain) Rahul Dravid did," added her friend Aliya Sheikh.

The tour came amid warming ties between the rival nations, who in February resumed talks on their disputes including Kashmir.

Fans in Srinagar had exploded firecrackers when Pakistan beat India in the second and third one-day matches last month, before India bounced back to win the last two matches and lift the series.

Many in Kashmir blamed Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for the loss.

"He (Akhtar) thinks he can always take wickets by bowling quick," said Ghulam Mohammed, himself a former player on the Indian Kashmir state cricket team.

"During this series he was totally directionless," he said, urging Pakistani cricket officials to dump players who did not perform well during the series.

But while there were dour faces on the streets of Srinagar, some Indian troops were seen dancing in their camps and setting off firecrackers.

"Right from the day one I knew this is the team that can beat Pakistan in Pakistan. I am delighted," said Udhay Shankar, a paramilitary trooper.

"They (the Indians) played like a team and did us proud," he said.

"The players are our national heroes, and they should be given a tumultous welcome on arriving back from Pakistan," added Rudrepal Singh, another trooper.