US national security adviser to reach Pakistan on Sunday

Susan Rice will try defusing rising tensions between India, Pakistan; will meet PM, COAS, among others

As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to grow, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday in an attempt to defuse tensions between the two rivals, Express News reported Saturday.

The US has expressed concern over recent developments and rising tensions between the neighbouring countries, as well as the ongoing ceasefire violations.

During her visit, Rice is expected to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and her counterpart Sartaj Aziz, among other leaders.

Earlier on Thursday, the US reiterated its call for nuclear-tipped neighbours to resume dialogue to resolve issues, saying America wanted to see tensions decrease between the two countries.

Read: Civil-military leadership slams Indian firing

Quoting sources, Express News said the premier is expected to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington in October.

Pakistan’s civil and military leadership on Friday assailed Indian forces for flouting all international norms and targeting the country’s civilian population as the two neighbours exchanged the deadliest fire in recent months along the border.

While the Foreign Office summoned India’s high commissioner to register a strong protest over the unprovoked Indian firing, army chief General Raheel Sharif condemned New Delhi for ‘crossing all limits to terrorise Pakistan’s civilian population’ without any regard to all international conventions and norms.

Read: At 11th hour, NSA talks called off

Cross-border firing killed at least nine people on Friday, the day India marked the 50th anniversary of a war between the two nations.

Last week, the scheduled talks between national security advisers of both countries were called off just hours before Sartaj Aziz was set to fly to New Delhi.