India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh, addresses a press conference in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, on Sunday
The Indian government said Sunday that Pakistan should stop provoking unrest in the Indian-controlled portion of the disputed Kashmir region, appealing for calm and restraint by people and government forces after two weeks of bloody protests that have left dozens of civilians dead.
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kashmir over the weekend, following street battles between government forces and protesters in the Muslim-
majority region.
India is particularly upset with Pakistan calling for a “black day” last week to protest India’s handling of the demonstrations.
At the end of his visit, Singh told a news conference Sunday that “Pakistan should change its stance on Kashmir.”
India is “worried about the situation in Kashmir,” he told reporters.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan who have fought two wars over its control since 1947 when British rule of the subcontinent ended. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training rebels who have been fighting for independence or merger with Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge, saying it provides political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris.
The largest anti-India street protests in recent years in Kashmir erupted after Indian troops killed a popular, young rebel leader in a gunbattle on July 8. Since then, most parts of the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been under security lockdown. But protests against Indian rule have persisted. Aijaz Hussain, Srinagar, AP
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