GUNMEN stormed a crowded Hindu temple and opened fire, killing at least 23 worshippers yesterday in a western Indian state where hundreds of people were killed in religious rioting this year.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Pakistan today from India for talks with President Pervez Musharraf.

A grenade explosion killed a young girl and wounded at least 18 civilians in a Kashmir border town today.

Suspected Islamic guerrillas attacked a counter-insurgents’ camp in Indian Kashmir today, setting off an explosion that killed at least three people and injured eight others, police said.

India’s new foreign minister doubts Pakistan intends to stop cross-border incursions by Islamic militants in Kashmir completely, and said India must be "very, very careful"’ in dealing with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

India took a small step back from the brink of war today and lifted a ban on Pakistan civilian aircraft flying over its air space.

India and Pakistan are toning down their war rhetoric and sounding more conciliatory, but shelling resumed today in divided Kashmir, killing a 17-year-old youth on the Pakistan side.

Pakistan conducted its second missile test in two days today, as the international community struggled to pull India and Pakistan, two nuclear neighbours, back from the brink of war.

Indian police arrested the leader of a Kashmiri separatist group today, a day after they detained a woman with £70,000 (€113,000) in cash allegedly intended for him, officers said.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf called India’s prime minister today to ask him to resume the stalled peace talks over the disputed Kashmir region.

The president of Pakistani Kashmir is urging every family to sign up one child to fight Indian troops.