India, March 21 -- India on Friday criticised Pakistan for actively backing cross-border terrorism, describing it as the "biggest roadblock to peace" in the region, and for hosting controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted by Indian authorities.

Both countries have traded charges in recent days over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar saying that Pakistan's occupation of a part of the erstwhile state in 1948 marks the longest standing illegal occupation of a territory by another country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too urged Pakistan to vacate Indian territory under its "illegal" occupation. Pakistan's foreign ministry responded to his remarks by describing them as "misleading and ...