US supports India's 'right to self-defence', slams Pakistan for linking Afghanistan to Kashmir

Washington D.C. [US], Oct. 13 (ANI): Backing India's right to self-defence in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack which it dubbed a clear case of cross-border terrorism, the United States has slammed Pakistan and dismissed its recent attempt to link peace in war-torn Afghanistan with resolution of the Kashmir issue. Peter Lavoy, the White House's point person for South Asia, has said that India-US ties are the most dynamic relationship for the country as he listed the Obama administration's achievements in strengthening the relationship between the two largest democracies of the world. The White House has backed India's right to defend itself as with any other country, in view of the recent surgical strike but advised caution given the heavy militarisation between the two neighbours. It also said that that the US is making every effort to ensure that India become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by the end of this year. 19 Indian Army soldiers were martyred during the terror attack on the army base camp in Uri region of Jammu and Kashmir following which Indian Army conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) on September 29. (ANI)