US says up to India, Pak to determine pace of dialogue over Kashmir issue

Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Marie Harf said on Saturday that her country still believes that it is for India and Pakistan to determine the pace of dialogue over the Kashmir issue.

"We still believe that pace, scope and character of India and Pakistan dialogue on Kashmir is for those two countries to determine," said Harf.

"Our embassies in both places have raised these types of incidents with their respective host Governments, and certainly encouraged both to continue working together on the issue," she added.

Moreover, expressing concern over yesterday's attacks in the valley she said, "We're concerned about any violence in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir, which is in the midst of its five-phase state assembly elections, yesterday, faced four terror attacks, which were aimed at undermining the democratic process.

The first attack, a pre-dawn hit on an army camp in the Uri sector of Baramullah reportedly left eight army personnel and three state policemen dead. In the operation, six militants were also killed.

The second attack took place in the state's capital Srinagar. Firing between militants and security forces left one militant dead.

The third and fourth attacks consisted of grenades being flung in Pulwama and Shopian.

The attacks have been condemned by various political parties, who had previously stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had chosen ballots, not bullets to voice their opinion. In the first and second phase of the elections, which took place on November 25 and December 2, the state saw a record number of voter turnout.