US favours India-Pak talks for resolving Kashmir issue

Washington, Jul 14: The US today said it wants dialogue between India and Pakistan for resolving Kashmir issue, amid war of words between the two countries over the the unrest in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.

"We want to see dialogue between India and Pakistan on how to resolve the conflict in Kashmir and our policy hasn't changed," the State Department Deputy Spokesman, Mark Toner, told reporters at his daily news conference.

Toner was responding to a question on protests in Kashmir after the killing of Wani in an encounter by security forces last week. Pakistan has deplored "excessive" force against civilians in the latest wave of violence in the Valley while expressing "deep shock" over the killing of Wani.

India has asked Pakistan to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. Pakistan had also summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and conveyed its "serious concerns over the recent killings" of Wani and civilians in Kashmir "by the Indian military and paramilitary forces."

PTI