Pakistan and India argue over claims of air strike

India and Pakistan sparred verbally last night over a reported military attack in Kashmir as the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage was in South Asia to discuss cross–border terrorism in the disputed Himalayan province.

The renewed rhetoric, after weeks of relative calm, raised fears that a means to pull back a million troops along the border between the archrivals was nowhere near.

Pakistan said Indian air force jets bombed a Pakistani army post on its side of the disputed Himalayan province. India denied the charges, calling them "malicious propaganda."

Armitage – who heads to Pakistan on Saturday – would not comment on the latest row between the neighbors, who have gone to war three times since independence in 1947.

But he did say that Washington feared further violence in Kashmir ahead of state elections there in September and October.

"We are concerned about the possibility of violence before the elections and this is something I will be discussing as I travel further," Armitage said after meeting Indian officials.

Defense Minister George Fernandes told Armitage that there was "ample evidence" of Pakistani plans to disrupt upcoming elections in Kashmir, according to a government spokesperson.

National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra told reporters after meeting with Armitage that despite pressure by Washington, India would not resume dialogue with Pakistan until attacks by Pakistan–based Islamic militants in Kashmir ended.

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez "Musharraf has made promises not only to India, but to the international community, and this is yet to be translated on the ground," said Mishra. "Until cross–border terrorism ends, there is no question of dialogue."

Musharraf gave assurances to Armitage during his last visit on June 6 that he would end cross–border terrorism in Kashmir. He now says he has curbed the larger militant groups, but cannot control every extremist group.

"I am very confident that there is no infiltration," Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi, chief spokesman for Musharraf, said Friday, adding that India was claiming otherwise because it was under pressure to scale back forces along the border.

Shortly after Armitage's arrival, Pakistan accused India of launching an "unprovoked attack" on an army post on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control that divides Kashmir.

Pakistan said India suffered heavy casualties, but there were no losses to Pakistani forces.

A Pakistani army statement said the attack was launched Thursday night in the Gultari sector of northern Kashmir but "the Pakistan army successfully defended the post causing heavy casualties to the enemy."

The statement said India sent planes to bomb Pakistani troops defending the post but were unable to drive them back.

The Indian Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that "the Indian armed forces have neither crossed the Line of Control nor attacked any place whatsoever."

The statement went on to say that Pakistan allegations "are apparently an effort at spreading disinformation and malicious propaganda to malign India internationally."

Though India and Pakistan have toned down their battlefield rhetoric, they're still on a war footing. Washington is anxious to maintain the relative calm, as another war in South Asia would hinder its anti–terrorism efforts in neighboring Afghanistan.

U.S. officials fear that Islamic militant attacks against voters ahead of the Kashmir elections could yet again ignite outrage by India.

Armitage said Washington has called for transparency in the Kashmiri polls.

"We have had some difficulties historically, but it looks as if the government of India is quite intent that these elections are free, fair and open," he said.

Kashmiri separatists have called for a boycott of the elections. They claim that past elections were rigged in favor of the pro–India ruling party and that Kashmiris should first be allowed to fulfill a decades–old U.N. resolution giving them the right to self–determination.

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in its entirety. Islamic militants, many of them based in Pakistan, have been fighting Indian forces in the portion of Kashmir controlled by India. At least 60,000 people have been killed in the 12–year insurgency.

India accuses Pakistan of financing and arming the rebels fighting for independence of India's only Muslim–majority state, or its merger with Pakistan. The accusations, and subsequent denials by Pakistan, brought the two close to war in June.

Armitage also discussed military and economic cooperation between the United States and India.

The Indian and American navies soon will hold another round of joint exercises in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, as well as joint exercises in Alaska. Both countries are testing counterterrorism maneuvers to safeguard their sea lanes.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush in September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting.