6 January 2015
10,000 in Kashmir Displaced by Rising Border Tensions

More than 10,000 people from Kashmir, India had abandoned their homes by Tuesday as tensions increased in the wake of increasing conflicts the Pakistan/Indian border.

An Indian villager clears the debris from his house, which locals said was damaged by firing from the Pakistan side of the border

Pakistan has claimed that India shelled the border and killed four civilians, while India has accused Pakistan of killing one of its border guards Monday. India said that the four Pakistanis killed by Indian security forces were plotting an attack on India.

An Indian official said, "Following indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas along the international border by Pakistan on Monday, more people have abandoned their homes close to the border in Samba and Kathua districts … The number of villagers lodged in makeshift accommodations at safer places has crossed 10,000 and their migration is continuing today (Tuesday)."

On New Year's Eve, the Indian military killed two Pakistani soldiers on the border.

Last week, India announced a nationwide alert in anticipation of visits by the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama in January. Kerry will also visit Pakistan. The U.S. provides economic and military anti-terrorism support to Pakistan. The Indian government sees Kerry of being pro-Pakistan.

Tensions between Indian and Pakistan have risen since August when Indian prime minister Narendra Modi canceled peace talks.

The two countries have fought three wars since the partition of 1947. 

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