India's PM Modi silent on Kashmir crackdown as Pakistan says troops killed in cross-border fire

Modi dances around move to scrap Kashmir's semi-autonomy and cut 8 million inhabitants off from world in Independence Day speech, as UN schedules meeting

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday justified his government's move to revoke Kashmir's semi-autonomous status as the picturesque Himalayan valley remained under a strict government lockdown for the 11th day. Modi said "a new approach was needed" on the territory, ownership over which has long been disputed with neighboring Pakistan, as efforts by Indian governments over the past 70 years "did not bear results."

The Indian leader did not address in his speech the mounting tension between his nation and Pakistan fuelled by his move in Kashmir, which ramped-up further Thursday with cross-border fire by the opposing military forces reportedly leaving eight people dead.

Modi addressed the nation on India's 73rd Independence Day from the ramparts of the iconic 17th century Red Fort in Delhi.

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