India has accused Pakistan of being "directly responsible" for the deadly attack by suspected Islamic militants on an army base in Kashmir, the defense minister said this afternoon. Pakistan has rejected the accusation.
The death toll has now risen to 34, following the death of a child of an army soldier in the military hospital in Jammu, the winter capital of India's northern Jammu-Kashmir state.
Three suspected attackers, dressed in army uniforms, were also killed and at least 45 people were wounded in yesterday’s assault.
All shops, businesses and schools were closed in Jammu on Wednesday, in mourning and in response to a call to strike by both the governing and opposition parties.
"Pakistan is directly responsible for this. They train young people and send them here to spread terrorism. What else can we expect of them?" Defense Minister George Fernandes said, after visiting the army base and the injured in several hospitals.
Pakistani Information Minister Nisar Memon rejected India's allegation. "Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism," he told reporters.
Pakistan, which condemned the attack, says it only offers moral support to the "freedom fighters."
AP