India ready for Pakistan talks over Kashmir tension

PanARMENIAN.Net - India is ready to send its top diplomat to Pakistan for talks focused on fighting cross-border terrorism, sources at India's foreign ministry said on Wednesday, August 17 after a spike in tension in the disputed northernmost region of Kashmir, Reuters reports.

Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was willing to attend talks on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, the sources said, stressing that cross-border terrorism was central to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir state.

The olive branch comes after 40 days of violent protests in Indian-ruled Kashmir that were sparked by the killing by security forces of a field commander of Pakistan-based Islamic militant group Hizbul Mujahideen who enjoyed wide support.

At least 64 people have died and thousands been injured in clashes with security forces that have been denounced by Pakistan, which also claims the right to rule Jammu & Kashmir in a territorial dispute that dates back to partition in 1947.

The Indian sources, who declined to be identified, made it clear, however, that India "rejects in their entirety the self-serving allegations regarding the situation in J&K, which is an integral part of India."

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is the name of India's only Muslim-majority state that includes the disputed Kashmir region.

No comment was immediately available from Pakistan's foreign ministry.