Pakistan Rejects Indian Leader's Kashmir 'Proxy War' Claim

Narendra Modi

Pakistan has rejected fresh allegations by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Islamabad is backing Islamist militants to fight a “proxy war” in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Modi on August 12 told Indian troops in Kashmir that they were “suffering more casualties from terrorism than from war.”

But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on August 13 said Modi was “repeating baseless rhetoric” against Pakistan.

It said Modi’s accusations were “most unfortunate” and that the two countries should focus instead on resolving all issues over Kashmir through cooperation and dialogue.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, which both claim the region in full but administer separate areas.

Two of the three wars between India and Pakistan since their independence from British colonial rule have been fought over Kashmir.

Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and “The Guardian”