OTTAWA, May 23: Canada waded into the standoff between India and Pakistan on Thursday by telling Islamabad it had to do more to stop militant groups “from crossing into the disputed territory of Kashmir.”

Canada is keen to develop closer relations with India and while Deputy Prime Minister John Manley called on both sides to calm down, he focused his comments on Pakistan.

“The situation is becoming more grave. I think the recent incidents in the Kashmir district — which the Indians are very strongly arguing resulted from further incursions by Pakistan — really increases the heat,” he told reporters.“We would urge both to try to cool tensions at the border. The Pakistanis must take serious efforts to prevent incursions from their territory into the district that is in dispute.”—Reuters