US expresses concern over violence in Kashmir

Washington, July 30: The US has expressed concern over the violence in Kashmir and called on "all sides" to make efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue as it wants to see the tensions de-escalated. [Protect citizens among rising intolerance, US tells India]

"We encourage all sides to make efforts to find a peaceful solution to this," State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters when asked about the ongoing violence in Kashmir.

"We have obviously seen reports of the clashes between protesters and Indian forces in Kashmir. And we're, of course, concerned by the violence, as you might expect we would be," he said. Kirby said the US was in close touch with the Indian government over the issue.

"But we're obviously concerned by the violence and we want to see the tensions de-escalated," Kirby said. Protests broke out across Kashmir Valley on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces.

In the ensuing clashes between protesters and security forces, 47 persons, including two policemen, were killed and 5,500 were injured.

PTI