Pakistan slams India over Kashmir remarks

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (AFP): Pakistan fired back Wednesday at New Delhi's "jingoistic rhetoric" after India's foreign minister vowed to retake Islamabad's portion of the disputed Kashmir region as tensions flare between the nuclear-armed rivals.

The neighbours have been locked in an escalating war of words since New Delhi stripped Indian-administered Kashmir of its autonomy last month and imposed a security lockdown on the area, sparking outrage in Pakistan.

Kashmir, split between the two countries since 1947, has been the spark for two major wars and countless clashes between them.

"We strongly condemn and reject the inflammatory and irresponsible remarks made by the Indian external affairs minister," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Such irresponsible and belligerent statements have the potential to further escalate tensions and seriously jeopardise peace and security in the region," it added.