Pak, India militaries in contact to reduce tension: US

WASHINGTON: In an attempt to diffuse tensions in the region, the US has called for maintaining peace and tranquility between India and Pakistan while urging both militaries to keep their lines of communication open. 

"We understand, as we said last week, that the militaries are in touch. We believe that continued communication is vital to reduce these tensions,” State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters Tuesday.

"We urge calm and restraint on both sides," she said, adding: “I think what you would take a look at being discussed is regional stability and regional security. One of the things I think we all need to focus on is conflicts or issues or rising tension are not contained to any specific region."

Trudeau, however, refused to respond to questions on India's claims of surgical strikes across the Line of Control. "I’m not going to speak to any reports of these incidents," she insisted.  “We are in favor of any reduction of tensions that both sides agree to in this particular instance. We have strong ties with both Pakistan and India, and we’ll engage on that basis,” Trudeau said.