USA claims its position on Kashmir has not changed

WASHINGTON: State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said on Monday that United States had not changed its position on the issue of Kashmir. 

During a press briefing, she said that both India and Pakistan had been urged to show calm and restraint. She refused to comment on the incident which occurred on the Line of Control on September 29. 

Both armies (of India and Pakistan) are in contact with each other," she said. America is also in contact with the high-level leadership of both countries," she added. 

Trudeau also said that only through contact could tensions and conflicts be brought down. She said that USA had contacted both countries for the purpose of deescalating tensions between them.

"More focus is needed on issues such as conflicts, problems and escalating tensions," she said.

India had claimed it had conducted a surgical strike against Pakistan on September 29, a claim denied by Pakistan vehemently. Pakistan had claimed two of its soldiers had been martyred by Indian shelling on September 29 and that its troops had responded befittingly to Indian aggression.