国际英语新闻：Russia urges India, Pakistan to prevent use of force

 MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Saturday asked India and Pakistan to show restraint to prevent the use of force amid the raising tension between the two South Asian neighbors.

    "Russia urges India and Pakistan to show maximum restraint and prevent the use of force on the border," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its official website.

    Tensions between the two nuclear rivals increased since the Mumbai attacks, as New Delhi accused Pakistan-based Islamic extremists of carrying out the attacks and elements within the Pakistani government and army of complicity in supporting terrorism in the region.

    The Pakistani government has denied the accusations, warning India to refrain from waging any strikes against Pakistan.

    Moscow is "extremely concerned" by reports that massive concentration of troops and military hardware is under way on both sides of the India-Pakistan border, said the statement, adding that tensions in that region have reached a dangerous level.

    The ministry urged the two sides to settle problems through negotiations which will intensify joint anti-terrorism efforts, and pledged to offer help to both sides.