Thousands of Indians have fled from their homes as fighting between India and Pakistan spread along a 200-km (124 mile) stretch of the border in the disputed region of Kashmir.<\/p>\n
According to a report, at least 10 Indian and Pakistani soldiers and civilians have been killed in fighting over the past week.<\/p>\n
Around 1,500 people in Indian border villages were evacuated or fled their homes over the weekend. Some people went back to their homes and fields during a daytime lull in the firing on Sunday but returned to government-run relief camps later, said Shantmanu, a government official who uses one name.<\/p>\n
Tension between the nuclear-armed rivals has risen since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called off peace talks in August and clashes along stretches of their border have been erupting intermittently since October.<\/p>\n
The violence comes days before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit India. President Barack Obama is also due to visit India later this month.<\/p>\n
The United States has for years been trying to push the South Asian rivals to build better relations. Mistrust between India and Pakistan is a factor behind conflict in various parts of the region including Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
India has reacted sharply to a US certification to Pakistan actions against terror outfits after John Kerry’s thumbs up to Islamabad released US aid of more than $532 million to Pakistan.<\/p>\n
The US certification was personally made by secretary of state John Kerry, indicating a shift in US policy to Pakistan. As US troops end combat operations in Afghanistan, Washington is clearly pumping in more civilian aid to Islamabad under the Kerry-Lugar Bill.<\/p>\n
The United States expressed concern over rising tensions and exchange of fire along the working boundary of Pakistan and India.<\/p>\n
The US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday the US remained concerned by the border tensions, and encouraged dialogue between India and Pakistan.<\/p>\n