WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday expressed concern over rising Pakistan-India tensions and the exchange of fire along the working boundary, which has claimed four Pakistani civilian lives.

 

 

 

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said Washington encourages Islamabad and New Delhi to engage in a dialogue. “We certainly remain concerned and watch over tensions along the border. We encourage dialogue between the (two) countries,” Psaki said, when the issue of flare-up in border tensions between Pakistan and India was raised at the daily briefing.

 

 

 

When her attention was drawn to the reports of four Pakistanis deaths in Indian fire in Sialkot sectors, the spokesperson said she did not have any confirmation but added the U.S. would obviously sympathize with families on loss of any lives. “Our hearts will go out to the families” for any lives lost.

 

 

 

In response to another question, the spokesperson noted that Washington has been supporting dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi. There have been some steps in the past and positive exchanges over the years but “obviously more work needs to be done.” On US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, she said the two sides work on a range of issues including counterterrorism and security issues.