UN urges Pak, India to ease tensions

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Wednesday urged Pakistan and India to ease new tensions over disputed Kashmir through dialogue and said no complaint has been made about a clash in which India alleged that one of its soldiers was beheaded.

The UN observer force in Kashmir is however investigating an incident in which Pakistan said one of its soldiers was killed, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters in New York.

Tensions have blown up along the Line of Control, the de facto border in Kashmir, over the past week with the two incidents drawing angry protests from the two sides.

India has said Pakistan soldiers beheaded an Indian soldier during a clash Tuesday in which two troops were killed.

On Sunday, Pakistan said one of its soldiers was killed.

"On the January 8 alleged incident, no official complaint has been received from either the Pakistani army or Indian army," Nesirky said.

"UNMOGIP is aware that the Pakistani army and Indian army are in contact via the hot line and urges both sides to respect the ceasefire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue."

He added that Pakistan's military had made an official complaint about the January 6 clash and the UN observers "will conduct an investigation as soon as possible in accordance with its mandate." (AFP)

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