Pakistan says "not looking at military option" over Kashmir dispute

Pakistan is not looking at a military option over Kashmir, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday, after neighbouring India revoked its decades-old special constitutional status for the disputed region this week.

However, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to any Indian aggression, Qureshi told a news conference in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

"We're not looking at military option," Qureshi said, adding, "Don't we reserve a right to respond in case of any aggression?"
Pakistan would soon take up the Indian move at the United Nations Security Council and is open to global bodies like the European Union stepping in to mediate, Qureshi said in the capital Islamabad.

There are fears of an escalation in violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours after New Delhi revoked Indian-administered Kashmir's special autonomy on Monday.

Pakistan is opposed to India having tighter control over the region and responded by downgrading diplomatic relations on Wednesday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan went so far as to say earlier this week that changing the status of Kashmir would inflame tensions, which could lead to a nuclear conflict.

The South Asian rivals have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

The Himalayan valley of Kashmir, which is claimed by both in its entirety but controlled by each only in parts, is the main bone of contention and cause of disputes.

Qureshi denied media reports that Pakistan had closed its airspaces for Indian flights like Islamabad did after clashes in February.

Earlier, Pakistan's Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid announced the suspension a rail service between the eastern city of Lahore and the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Pakistan would no longer operate a twice-a-week service in protest to the change in the status of Indian-administered Kashmir, Rashid said.

The Samjhauta Express is one of the two means of travelling between Pakistan and India along with a bus service between Lahore and New Delhi.

The suspension was likely to impact thousands of people who travel across the border every week.

It was not announced whether Pakistan would also suspend the Lahore-New Delhi bus service.

Separately, Pakistani Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan announced a ban on the screening of Bollywood movies in the country's cinemas and to limit Indian cultural content on television.