Pakistan's PM urges dialog on Kashmir, warns India against military action

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for dialog with India to ease tensions that were triggered days after a bomb attack claimed the lives of over 40 paramilitary troops in the disputed region of Kashmir.

In a televised speech on Tuesday, Khan said Islamabad had nothing to do with the bombing. 

He said the Indian government had leveled allegations against Pakistan "without any evidence." 

The Pakistani government, Khan said, was ready to cooperate with New Delhi in investigating the bombing.
Khan also warned that Pakistan will retaliate if India takes military action. "If you think that you will launch any kind of attack on Pakistan, Pakistan will not just think about retaliation, Pakistan will retaliate."

A military convoy of Indian forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir came under attack on February 14. The assault was claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group and was the worst in decades in the disputed valley, which is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but ruled partially by each.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed a strong response to the attack.

Also, the top Indian military commander in Kashmir has said Pakistan’s main spy service, the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI), was involved in the attack.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory.

Indian troops are in constant clashes with armed groups seeking Kashmir’s independence or its merger with Pakistan.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants and allowing them cross the restive frontier in an attempt to launch attacks. Pakistan strongly denies the allegation.

EA