Pakistan proposes talks over Kashmir tensions

ISLAMABAD (dpa) – Pakistan’s foreign minister proposed talks with her Indian counterpart to “sort out things” amid tensions arising from a series of deadly ceasefire violations in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Hina Rabbani Khar expressed disappointment in a statement issued late Wednesday over remarks by the Indian military, politicians and the media, warning that rhetoric and ratcheting up tensions were counterproductive.

She said the continuing of tensions along the Line of Control, the de-facto border dividing Kashmir between Pakistan and India, was not in the interest of regional peace and stability.

“It is advisable for the two countries to discuss all concerns related to the Line of Control with a view to reinforcing respect for the ceasefire, maybe at the level of the foreign ministers, to sort out things,” Khar was quoted as saying in the statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad.

Khar’s remarks came shortly after senior military commanders of both nuclear-armed countries made contact to discuss the most recent skirmish along the Line of Control Tuesday night, which Pakistan said left one of its soldiers dead.

The Pakistani military said both sides “agreed” to reduce tensions along the border in the Himalayan territory.

Since January 6, multiple exchanges of fire have killed three Pakistani and two Indian troops. The two arch-rivals blamed each other for initiating the clashes.