Ever since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, India and Pakistan have been bitter rivals.

During the last five decades the two nations have fought three wars, two of them over the disputed region of Kashmir.

The wars have done little to resolve the dispute over the territory which is still divided by what both nations call the "Line of Control."

Tensions are always high in the region, but they worsened in mid-May when an army camp in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir was attacked by militants.

Since then, troops have skirmished daily across the Line of Control, sparking global concern that the nuclear neighbours are once again on the brink of war.