SRINAGAR: The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq , on Sunday expressed concern over the cross-border firing and shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops, saying these frequent skirmishes “could escalate into a war” between the two countries.“Such frequent skirmishes could soon escalate into a war between the two neighbours which is in the interest of none and will only bring death and destruction to all,” a spokesman of the Hurriyat said in a statement. He said the Kashmir issue remains the “core problem” between the two countries and to avoid a war-like situation in the region, global fora across the world, especially the Saarc countries, can play a role in influencing the two nations to stop the hostilities.“(They can) take concrete steps which would help resolve the dispute between them and foster friendly relations that, in turn, would create an environment of peace, prosperity and progress for the entire region,” he added.Criticising the J&K government for “taking the situation in Kashmir back to the oppression of the 1990s”, the Hurriyat spokesman alleged government forces were conducting nightly raids on homes of youths, beating up inmates and ransacking household items.“Peaceful protests are being dealt with brutal and oppressive tactics that would even put Nazis to shame,” he added.