NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday warned Pakistan against using its soil for “anti-India activity”.
Manmohan Singh's comments came against the backdrop of the killing of five Indian soldiers in disputed Kashmir last week that New Delhi blamed on Pakistani soldiers and which has stoked tensions between the neighbours.
“India has always strived for friendship with its neighbouring countries,” Singh said during his annual address marking India's independence day from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi.
“However, for relations with Pakistan to improve, it is essential that they prevent the use of their territory and territory under their control for any anti-India activity,” Singh said.
The renewed tensions have cast a shadow over hopes of a resumption of stalled peace talks between the two countries.
Recently, regular skirmishes have been reported between the troops along the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC) dividing the Kashmir region.
On the other hand, Pakistan has denied involvement of its soldiers in the ambush, the deadliest such incident involving Indian soldiers along the LoC since the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in 2003.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pledged Wednesday to respond to the rising tensions in Kashmir with “restraint and responsibility”.
More than a dozen armed groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989, demanding independence for Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir.
http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pakistan/187849-Prevent-use-of-territory-for-antiIndia-activity-
Manmohan Singh's comments came against the backdrop of the killing of five Indian soldiers in disputed Kashmir last week that New Delhi blamed on Pakistani soldiers and which has stoked tensions between the neighbours.
“India has always strived for friendship with its neighbouring countries,” Singh said during his annual address marking India's independence day from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi.
“However, for relations with Pakistan to improve, it is essential that they prevent the use of their territory and territory under their control for any anti-India activity,” Singh said.
The renewed tensions have cast a shadow over hopes of a resumption of stalled peace talks between the two countries.
Recently, regular skirmishes have been reported between the troops along the heavily-militarised Line of Control (LoC) dividing the Kashmir region.
On the other hand, Pakistan has denied involvement of its soldiers in the ambush, the deadliest such incident involving Indian soldiers along the LoC since the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in 2003.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pledged Wednesday to respond to the rising tensions in Kashmir with “restraint and responsibility”.
More than a dozen armed groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989, demanding independence for Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir.
http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pakistan/187849-Prevent-use-of-territory-for-antiIndia-activity-
