The first round of voting in the Kashmir elections was described as a 'positive start' by US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill, as he dismissed allegations by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that the polls were a sham. 'We do not think it was a sham,' Mr Blackwill said in an interview on Star News TV yesterday. 'In fact, it was the furthest thing from a sham.' His political officer, who observed the polls, had appeared impressed by the conduct of the elections, Mr Blackwill said. The diplomat also said that Islamic insurgents were once again crossing from Pakistan into the Indian-controlled portion of the disputed Himalayan state. 'The infiltration rates have gone up again in August and September, which of course is very troubling,' he said.
