India warns Pakistan over Kashmir strikes

Indian activists of Delhi Youth Congress shout anti-Pakistan slogans during a demonstration aganist the clashes on the Line of Control as they try to march towards the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi yesterday. Photo: AFP

India told Pakistan yesterday to stop its shelling in disputed Kashmir, warning it will make such attacks "unaffordable", as the death toll from this week's cross-border violence -- the worst in years -- rose to 17.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley accused Pakistan of instigating the tit-for-tat shelling that began on Sunday and has forced tens of thousands of civilians living on both sides of the border to flee their homes.
"If Pakistan persists with this adventurism, our forces will make cost of this adventurism unaffordable for it," Jaitley told journalists in New Delhi.
"Pakistan should stop this unprovoked firing and shelling if it wants peace on the border."
The Pakistani army yesterday confirmed five more civilians had died on its side of the disputed northern Kashmir region and eastern Punjab province, doubling the toll to 10.
Seven civilians have died in India. Regional police chief Rajesh Kumar told AFP  that firing from both sides had continued into the early hours of the morning.
"Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes," he added.
The nuclear-armed neighbours have traded blame for the cross-border strikes, which began during Eid ul-Adha celebrations in the predominantly Muslim region.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said his country was "fully capable of responding befittingly to Indian aggression" but urged India to exercise caution.
"We do not want the situation on the borders of two nuclear neighbours to escalate into confrontation," he added.
US Senators Timothy Kaine and Angus King said they are “concerned” over the rising tensions at the India-Pakistan Line of Control , reports The Hindu.
Speaking to journalists in New Delhi yesterday, the senators raised some eyebrows by also suggesting that the United Nations could play a “bigger role” in the conflict. “I welcome the comments of the UN Secretary General calling for diplomatic efforts and dialogue to end the worrying situation between India and Pakistan,” said King, referring to a statement from UN Secretary General's spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric asking India and Pakistan to “resolve their issues”.
While the UN Secretary General stuck to India's stated position on a bilateral resolution to the LoC with Pakistan, the US Senators may have stepped out of line by calling for a greater role in the dispute, adding “As a promoter of peaceful resolution of disputes the UN does a good job and in that sense their participation should be welcomed.”
Speaking to The Hindu, Kaine said he also welcomed Prime Minister Modi's statement that a resolution would be found “very soon” and called it “very encouraging”.
Senator Kaine said his visit to India, including meeting defence officials and visiting Mumbai to interact with businessmen had given them an “opportunity to better understand India's concerns”. Just before visiting India, Kaine had also met with Pakistan's Ambassador to US Jalil Jilani.
According to an official statement quoted in Pakistani papers, Kaine “appreciated Pakistan's efforts to address terrorism, and assured of US support for peace and stability in the region.”