India summons Pakistani diplomat over Kashmir gun battle

Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard during a gunfight at a checkpoint in Nagrota, outskirts of Jammu in Indian-controlled Kashmir, November 19, 2020. /AP

India on Saturday summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat over what New Delhi said was a foiled attack this week in Indian-controlled Kashmir by a Pakistan-based militant group, a charge the neighboring country denied.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the killing of four Jaish-e-Mohammed militants in a gun battle with security forces, and the recovery of a large cache of weapons and explosives from them, indicated that they were planning to "wreak major havoc and destruction" in the region ahead of local elections there.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said a protest was lodged with Pakistan's charge d'affaires in New Delhi.

"India reiterated its longstanding demand that Pakistan fulfill its international obligations and bilateral commitments to not allow any territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India in any manner," the ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Modi's allegations as groundless.

"We view these as part of India's desperate attempts to divert international attention from its state-terrorism in (Indian-controlled Kashmir) and state-sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan," the ministry said late on Friday following Modi's comments on Twitter.

Indian security forces inspect the site after a gunfight at a checkpoint in Nagrota, outskirts of Jammu in Indian-controlled Kashmir, November 19, 2020. /AP