US encourages India, Pakistan militaries to continue communicating

We encourage continued discussions as a means to reduce any tensions, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook says

The US has called for continued communication between the Pakistani and Indian militaries to reduce tension, The Times of India reports.

"We are aware that the Indian and Pakistani militaries have been in communication with one another and we encourage these continued discussions between India and Pakistan as a means to reduce any tensions that may be out there," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said on Tuesday.

"We are encouraged by that and we certainly would encourage those conversations to continue," Cook told media persons while responding to questions relating to the situation in the wake of the Uri military base attack.



Earlier on October 3, the two sides exchanged fire along the Line of Control (LoC) at the Istikharabad, Nezapir and Kailer sectors. Pakistan Army said it responded befittingly to unprovoked Indian aggression. A night before, six militants attacked an Indian Army camp in the northern part of held Kashmir, killing one border guard and wounding another.

On September 29, Indian military said it had carried out ‘surgical strikes’ across the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan denied the claim and said that two of its soldiers had been killed as the former opened fire in Bhimber, Kel and Lipa sectors. On September 18, 18 Indian troops were killed in an attack on a military base in Uri near the LoC.