UK urges Pakistan, India to resolve conflicts through dialogue

British foreign secretary meets interior minister to acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts to establish peace in the region

As a new wave of tension gripped the border between Pakistan and India on Friday with at least 11 people being killed, England urged both sides to resolve their conflicts through dialogue.

British foreign secretary Phillip Hammond stressed this during a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in London on Friday, Radio Pakistan reported.

Hammond acknowledged Pakistan’s consistent efforts to establish peace in the region and the efforts of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif towards this end.

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The foreign secretary also expressed hope that dialogue process with Afghanistan will move forward and avoid impediments, assuring his support in this regard.

Both sides agreed that there was no misunderstanding in Pakistan-UK relations neither they will allow it to take place in future.

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Cross-border firing between India and Pakistan killed at least 11 people on Friday. On the Pakistani side of the frontier, six civilians were killed and more than 40 were treated for wounds in hospital in the town of Sialkot, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

On the other hand, India’s Border Security Force said three civilians had died and 22 were wounded in firing across the frontier in the northern Jammu region. Both said the other side opened fire first.