UN Chief Express ‘Concern’ Over Violence In Kashmir

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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced alarm at the latest upsurge in violence along the disputed border of India and Pakistan in Kashmir that has killed at least nine people since last week. In statement released on Tuesday, the UN chief urged both governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians after the two countries continued to exchange heavy mortar fire almost daily over the past 10 days.

“(Ban) expresses serious concern about the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, which reportedly resulted in a number of casualties on both sides, including civilians,” the UN press office said in a statement. On Sunday clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the border intensified killing at least eight people and wounding 14.

The Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a spurt in violence in recent months and the UN’s statement on Tuesday, came as two people, including a policeman and a civilian, were killed when suspected rebels opened fire outside a Muslim shrine some 55km outside the capital Srinagar. Rebels in recent years have often attacked lone police officers on duty and snatched their service weapons.

Aljazeera.