LoC tense, US asks India and Pak to keep talking

Yet another ceasefire violation reported on Thursday in the Poonch sector. Pakistan accuses India of killing its soldier in an exchange of fire. Both countries work to keep process alive. Border still tense as India, Pak try to keep peace process on track| Pak alleges Indian troops killed their soldier

The US has urged India and Pakistan to defuse the rising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir through "high-level dialogue".

Again voicing Washington's "concerns about this violence along the Line of Control", State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters: "We've made representations to both governments urging them to work together to determine the best course of action."

"We strongly support their continued high-level dialogue that they are engaged in. That is the best way to work through these issues and end the violence and move back to where we had been," she said.

Nuland noted that India and Pakistan had earlier seen "a warming, certainly on the economic side, which we hoped would lead to a warming on other sides as well."

"I think we're all for peace, and what's important is that the governments are talking."

However, the LoC remained tense with both countries accusing each other of military offensives. Yet another ceasefire violation was reported on Thursday in the Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan said it lost a soldier in an exchange of fire. It accused the Indian side of provoking a border clash, which was rejected by the Indian Army.

Positive statements about peace are emanating from Pakistan too, with foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar saying in Islamabad: “Both the countries will show their commitment to correct (the situation).”

(With IANS inputs)