India refuses to enter talks with Pakistan

India has refused to enter talks with Pakistan in an effort to prevent the two bitter enemies fighting a fourth war over the disputed province of Kashmir.

Indian officials have accused Pakistan of doing little to crack down on Islamic militants fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir, a mainly Muslim province in Hindu-dominated India.

Both countries have moved thousands of soldiers, as well as artillery, tanks and warplanes, to the disputed border area in the largest military build-up in the region in 15 years.

This latest stand-off mushroomed after India accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of colluding with the militant group which killed 14 people in an attack on the parliament building in New Delhi on December 13.

That attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, a group India claims is trained and financed by the Pakistani Government. Pakistan has denied these charges and has arrested dozens of militants connected to the group in recent days.

However, the move has done little to appease India, which began evacuating villages along the ceasefire line in Kashmir over the past few days.

Pakistan has also done the same, fuelling fears that the two neighbouring countries are preparing for their fourth war since achieving independence from Britain in 1947.