Australia has urged Pakistan and India to avoid further military action as the conflict in Kashmir between the two nuclear-armed neighbours heats up.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she was very concerned by the reports of the escalation in the conflict, with both countries launching air strikes in the past two days.
Troops on the ground have also exchanged fire at numerous locations in the disputed territory claimed by both sides.
"If those reports are correct, we would certainly urge both sides to exercise restraint. To avoid further military action, this is a dangerous cycle of escalation," Senator Payne said during a visit to London.
"I would encourage direct dialogue between both countries to endeavour to resolve these matters in a peaceful way."
Senator Payne said "the cycle of escalation ... is very dangerous for all concerned".
The Department of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation in the two countries but no travel advice has been issued for Australians as yet.
Senator Payne was in London for a meeting with her counterpart, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, to discuss a post-Brexit free trade deal between the two countries and the shared efforts to promote the international rules based order.
