India and Pakistan are heading for war over the disputed border region of Kashmir, the former Chief Minister for the state has claimed.
Indian politician Farooq Abdullah, 80, said officials on both sides needed to stop blaming each other for the recent flare-up in the state, and start a dialogue before war breaks out.
Violence in Kashmir, a state divided between Pakistan and India, has escalated in recent weeks, with at least 15 civilians and 13 soldiers killed and dozens injured on the two sides.
Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said India and Pakistan are heading for war in Kashmir unless the two sides stop blaming each other and start talking
The fighting also has caused extensive damage and sent tens of thousands of residents fleeing from their border homes.
Mr Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and now MP for the Srinagar constituency in the Indian state slammed officials for putting the blame on Pakistan.
‘Are they the only ones who’re firing? We’re firing too,’ he said according to ZeeNews.
‘Both sides are doing this. This has led to destruction of people. This is leading to a war like situation.
‘War is never a solution to anything. The only solution is dialogues.’
Victims: The son of an Indian civilian killed in Pakistani firing and shelling in the Kanachack district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, mourns his father during a funeral service last month
His comments came after four Indian soldiers and one Pakistani civilian were killed during an exchange of gunfire along the highly militarized de-facto border on Sunday.
Two Pakistani children and two Indian soldiers were injured, officials said.
An Indian official says Pakistan started firing artillery and small arms onto Indian positions, while a Pakistani official says Indian forces started the violence by firing onto the Pakistani side. Each said their forces returned fire only in retaliation.
On January 27, Indian soldiers opened fire on Pakistani protesters who had been throwing stones at a passing military convoy, killing two young men and wounding several others, police said.
Indians walk near a wall with marks of mortar shells that landed allegedly in firing from the Pakistan side of the border in Kanachack district of Jammu and Kashmir, India last month
Earlier that week, an exchange of gunfire and shelling killed at least one civilian and injured three on the Indian side.
India and Pakistan often accuse each other of violating a 2003 cease-fire agreement.
Both countries accuse the other of initiating border skirmishes leading to the deaths of soldiers and civilians.
Tensions have increased since the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in India in 2014.
India and Pakistan have a long history of bitter relations over Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between them and claimed by both in its entirety.
The have fought two wars over Kashmir’s control since they won independence from Britain in 1947.