Washington has asked India and Pakistan to use dialogue to address their bilateral issues and has cautioned against the use of rhetoric, PTI reported on Saturday. Referring to the recent heated exchange of statements between the two countries’ officials, a US state department spokesperson said, “It is our hope and our counsel to [the two countries that they] continue to push forward on a process of talks.” The United States official told PTI that Washington has been clear that action against terrorist groups, wherever they may operate from, was imperative.

Continuing the exchange between India and Pakistan, Islamabad’s High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit said, that despite India’s “rejection” of their invitation for a dialogue, his government only wished for peace in the Valley. According to an ANI report, Basit said he hoped talks on the Kashmir issue would continue soon.

Asked to comment on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's allegations that Islamabad was instigating Kashmiri youth to indulge in acts of violence, the Pakistani official merely said this was Mufti's opinion. He dismissed queries about the United Nations confirmation of Dawood Ibrahim's addresses in Pakistan as a "stale matter". Earlier this month, the diplomat came under fire for saying that Pakistan will always help the Kashmiri freedom struggle.

As the region entered its 50th consecutive day of curfew following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani, suspected terrorists gunned down a police constable in Pulwama on Saturday morning, ANI reported.