Pakistan has rejected Indian allegations that militants are once again crossing into Indian-administered Kashmir.

We need to be very, very careful in our dealings with President Musharraf

Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha

Military spokesman Rashid Qureshi said there was no truth at all in the accusations by India's new Minister for External Affairs, Yashwant Sinha.

"Frankly I'm taken aback," General Qureshi told the French news agency AFP.

Mr Sinha told reporters that President Musharraf had reneged on a promise to permanently halt incursions by militants across the Line of Control (LoC) which divides Kashmir.

As the president has stated, there is nothing happening across the Line of Control [LoC]

Pakistani statement

"We are looking at it [infiltration] on a continuous, almost day-to-day vigil," said Mr Sinha, who was named foreign minister in a reshuffle on Monday.

"We need to be very, very careful in our dealings with President Musharraf."

He said that signs of "some reduction" in incursions had proved shortlived, and they had now returned to previous levels.

General Qureshi accused India of inventing the claims to avoid dialogue with Pakistan.

India 'wary'

President Musharraf said on 27 May that no infiltration was taking place across the LoC.

Sinha: First Kashmir comment since reshuffle

His promise to end cross-border militancy permanently was a key factor in reducing tension with India.

Both countries have deployed about a million soldiers along their mutual borders since a militant attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi last December.

An earlier public pledge by the president to stop militancy curbed infiltrations for a few weeks before they returned to previous levels.

BBC correspondent Jill McGivering in Delhi says India is wary of the same thing happening again.

It has consistently said it will judge General Musharraf by deeds, not words.

International pressure

Our correspondent says Mr Sinha may be keen to persuade a domestic audience he will be tough on Islamabad - but his comments could be very damaging.

They come at a time when the international community is still trying persuade Delhi to do more to respond positively to its neighbour.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was meeting President Musharraf when Mr Sinha made his remarks. He is now in Delhi.

His is the latest in a series of high-profile Western visits aimed at reducing tensions between the nuclear neighbours.

With so many troops still deployed, many diplomats feel the situation is still dangerously volatile, our correspondent says.