India obstacle to peace

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lashed out at India over escalating tensions in Kashmir, telling the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that New Delhi was an obstacle to peace.

Gun battles raged Tuesday on the disputed Kashmir border between the nuclear-armed neighbours, two days after 18 Indian soldiers were killed in an attack blamed on Pakistan-based militants, reports AFP.

"The international community ignores the danger of rising tensions in South Asia, at its own peril," Sharif warned the General Assembly.

"Pakistan wants peace with India. I have gone the extra mile to achieve this," he told the gathering in New York. "But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue.

"Let us be clear: talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences," the Pakistani premier said.

"We are open to discussing all measures of restraint and responsibility with India, in any forum or format and without any conditions," Sharif said.

Meanwhile, India has strongly criticised Sharif's speech at the UN, in which he not only raked up the Kashmir protests, but also hailed Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.