Trump speaks with leaders of India and Pakistan about Kashmir tensions

United States President Donald Trump spoke by phone with the prime ministers of India and Pakistan about the escalating tensions in Kashmir.

Indian troops on alert in the old city of Srinagar in Kashmir on Saturday, August 17, 2019. India tightened security in the disputed region after the government revoked Kashmir's special administrative status. [File photo: VCG]

Earlier in the day, President Trump called India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and spoke about the importance of maintaining peace in the region. Later in the day, he talked with Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan about the need to reduce tensions and for Pakistan to moderate its rhetoric about India.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said President Trump "reaffirmed the need to avoid escalation of the situation, and urged restraint on both sides."

Tensions between the two countries have been increasing since August 5, when New Delhi abolished the special status of Indian-controlled Kashmir. On Monday, authorities in Kashmir lifted some of the security restrictions that were in place in the summer capital Srinagar, nearly two week after India decided to withdraw the special constitutional status of the region and moved in heavy security forces to prevent local protests.

Pakistan and India have fought two wars over the control of Kashmir since they won independence from British colonialists in 1947.

(Story includes material sourced from AP.)