US concerned over violence along LoC in Kashmir

The United States voiced concern over violence along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir valley, after Pakistan’s statement that unprovoked Indian shelling killed an army officer and two Pakistani soldiers in the region.

“We are certainly aware of these reports. We remain concerned about violence along the line of control,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said, responding to a question about the Indian aggression in disputed Jammu and Kashmir.

She emphasised Washington’s call for further dialogue between the two south Asian nuclear powers.

“Our policy on Kashmir has not changed. We still believe the pace, scope and character of India and Pakistan’s dialogue on Kashmir is for the two countries to determine,” she said.

She said US diplomats in Islamabad and New Delhi are in touch with the respective governments over the Kashmir issue.

Responding to a question, Psaki said she would not speculate the reason behind India’s show of aggression along the LoC despite Pakistan’s emphasis on peace and restraint.

“I don’t want to speculate on the future. We certainly hope that India and Pakistan will engage in dialogue, and, of course they have played important roles in the process in Afghanistan as well and we are hopeful that will continue,” she said, when asked about fears that the persistent standoff in Kashmir could see a spillover of Pakistani-Indian tensions into Afghanistan.