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India, Pakistan trade blame over border clashes India, Pakistan trade blame over border clashes
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI — Leaders in India and Pakistan traded blame Thursday for cross-border attacks that have killed at least 18 civilians in recent days and forced thousands from their homes, officials said.NEW DELHI — Leaders in India and Pakistan traded blame Thursday for cross-border attacks that have killed at least 18 civilians in recent days and forced thousands from their homes, officials said.
Villagers in the disputed Kashmir region have fled an unusually intense spate of mortar shelling that has gone on for more than a week along the border, one of the most highly militarized zones in the world. It is some of the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbors since a 2003 cease-fire.Villagers in the disputed Kashmir region have fled an unusually intense spate of mortar shelling that has gone on for more than a week along the border, one of the most highly militarized zones in the world. It is some of the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbors since a 2003 cease-fire.
India’s defense minister, Arun Jaitley, called on Pakistan to stop “unprovoked” attacks and warned of an “unaffordable” price if the violence continues. India’s defense minister, Arun Jaitley, called on Pakistan to stop “unprovoked” attacks and issued a warning.
“If Pakistan persists with this adventurism, then our forces will continue to fight," Jaitley told reporters at a news conference in New Delhi. "The cost of this adventurism will be unaffordable.” “If Pakistan persists with this adventurism, then our forces will continue to fight,” Jaitley said at a news conference in New Delhi. "The cost of this adventurism will be unaffordable.”
In Pakistan, a military spokesman said 10 Pakistani civilians had been killed and more than 42 injured during the attacks.13 In Pakistan, a military spokesman said 10 Pakistani civilians had been killed and more than 42 injured during the attacks.
“During the last three days, Indian troops are repeatedly resorting to unprovoked firing,” the spokesman said. Pakistani troops are meeting the fire with “an effective response,” he added.“During the last three days, Indian troops are repeatedly resorting to unprovoked firing,” the spokesman said. Pakistani troops are meeting the fire with “an effective response,” he added.
The secretary general of the United Nations is “concerned about the recent escalation of violence” and wants both nations “to engage constructively to find a long-term solution for peace and stability in Kashmir,” his spokesman said in a statement Thursday. The United Nations has expressed concern about “the recent escalation of violence.” The U.N. secretary general wants both nations “to engage constructively to find a long-term solution for peace and stability in Kashmir,” his spokesman said in a statement Thursday.
Rajesh Kumar, the inspector general of police in the Jammu region, on the Indian side, said that border clashes have been common over the years but that the intensity of the shelling was “very high” compared with other incidents, occurring even during daylight hours. Rajesh Kumar, the inspector general of police in the Jammu region, on the Indian side, said that border clashes have been common over the years but that the intensity of the shelling this time was “very high” compared with past incidents, occurring even during daylight hours.
The two countries have fought over their disputed border and the territory of Kashmir — including two of their wars — since Muslim-majority Pakistan was carved out of Hindu-dominated India in 1947. The two countries have fought over their disputed border and the territory of Kashmir — including two wars — since Muslim-majority Pakistan was carved out of Hindu-dominated India in 1947.
The escalating border crisis is the first between the countries since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, took power in May. Modi had made a point to invite Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in, but the goodwill faded when border clashes erupted a little later. The escalating border crisis is the first between the countries since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, took power in May. Modi had made a point to invite Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in, but the goodwill faded when border clashes erupted earlier in the summer.
Modi was asked about the issue while attending a military ceremony Wednesday and replied tersely: “Everything will be fine soon.” Modi was asked about the issue while he was attending a military ceremony Wednesday and replied tersely: “Everything will be fine soon.”
Although Sharif plans to convene his National Security Council on Friday to discuss the fighting, there was no sign of urgency or concern within the government, officials in Pakistan said.Although Sharif plans to convene his National Security Council on Friday to discuss the fighting, there was no sign of urgency or concern within the government, officials in Pakistan said.
Instead, Sharif traveled Thursday to Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region to meet with soldiers who have been waging a four-month-old operation against the Taliban in the area. Instead, Sharif traveled Thursday to Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region to meet with soldiers engaged in a four-month-old operation against the Taliban in the area.
Kumar, the police official in Jammu, estimated that 50,000 villagers in India have been affected by the ongoing conflict and that many were living in temporary camps. Thousands in the region have already been displaced after severe flooding last month. Kumar, the police official, estimated that 50,000 villagers in India have been affected by the ongoing conflict and that many were living in temporary camps. Thousands in the region have already been displaced after severe flooding last month.
“We have never seen such shelling on the border,” said Shanti Lal, 53, a villager from Trewa said. “There were bombs and rockets flying all over our village.” “We have never seen such shelling on the border,” said Shanti Lal, 53, a villager from Trewa. “There were bombs and rockets flying all over our village.”
Lal said the villagers stayed in their homes for the first two days of attacks, then escaped, leaving behind everything they owned. About 400 from his village are living with relatives or in temporary camps, he said, and the uncertainty was devastating. Lal said the villagers stayed in their homes for the first two days of attacks, then escaped, leaving behind everything they owned. About 400 from his village are living with relatives or in temporary camps, he said, and the uncertainty is devastating.
“We don’t know when it’s going to end,” Lal said. “Our cattle would be starving by now, and we have no clue about our house.”“We don’t know when it’s going to end,” Lal said. “Our cattle would be starving by now, and we have no clue about our house.”
Tim Craig and Shaiq Hussein in Islamabad and Jalees Andrabi in New Delhi contributed to this report.Tim Craig and Shaiq Hussein in Islamabad and Jalees Andrabi in New Delhi contributed to this report.