NEW DELHI, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - A decision to calm tensions on the Indo-Pakistani border depends entirely on Pakistan, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Friday.
"India is ready to give an adequate response. Pakistan has to decide whether to continue the escalation of the conflict, or to start its de-escalation. We will respond appropriately to any of their actions," Akbaruddin told IANS agency.
On Wednesday night Pakistani frontier guards opened fire along the whole border line under their control, shelling 60 Indian border troop posts and 90 neighboring villages. The Indian side returned fire. According to Indian media reports, more than 30,000 residents have fled villages in Jammu and Kashmir amid escalation of cross-border fire exchanged between Indian and Pakistani troops.
Following the end of British rule and the establishment of independence in both India and Pakistan, the neighboring countries have engaged in a number of armed conflicts over the Kashmir region.
Currently, there are no official borders in the region while the armies of the two conflicting countries determine lines of control. Tension between India and Pakistan has been fueled by frequent exchanges of fire at the border, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement of 2003.
