“There is a need for the government of India to exercise restraint,” a statement quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying.

“Pakistan is seriously concerned at the escalation of violence against Kashmiri people that has resulted in the loss of innocent lives,” Qureshi said.

At least 42 people have died in weeks of unrest — most of them killed by security forces trying to disperse angry protests against India. Each death has triggered further violent demonstrations and security crackdowns.

Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s “unequivocal solidarity” with the people of Kashmir and said the country would “continue to extend its political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of... their right to self-determination.”

Qureshi said recent statements from the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Conference illustrate the collective concern of the international community at the human rights violations in Kashmir.

Most of the recent deaths were blamed on Indian security forces trying to disperse angry protesters.

Police said the latest victims were two young men killed on Tuesday when security forces opened fire to quell demonstrators in Srinagar.

The death in June of a 17-year-old student — killed by a police tear gas shell — set off a series of almost daily protests in which scores of people have been killed, 25 of them since Friday.

On Tuesday, thousands of protesters ignored police warnings they would be shot on sight if they defied a round-the-clock curfew in Kashmir. Security forces shot and killed two people and wounded another Tuesday as they gathered or marched in Srinagar, a police officer said.

News of those casualties brought more demonstrators out. Government forces fired at hundreds who hurled rocks and shouted, “Go India! Go back!” and “We want freedom.” Hundreds also defied the curfew in the western town of Budgam and held a protest march. Government forces fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the protesters, injuring four people, the police officer said. Similar protest marches took place in the southern towns of Kulgam, Pampore, Khrew and scores of other villages, police said.

Police patrolled the streets of Srinagar on Tuesday and used loudspeakers to warn residents that they would be shot on sight if they came out of their homes. Similar warnings were made in other parts of the region, where tens of thousands of armed police and paramilitary soldiers were deployed to prevent unrest but failed to stop protesters from gathering in many places.

The army was patrolling the main highways to stop protesters from blocking them. “We’re making sure the highway remains open and soldiers are patrolling on a routine basis,” army spokesman Lt. Col. J.S. Brar said.

Kashmir’s chief minister, Omar Abdullah, renewed his appeal for calm and reviewed the situation with military, police and intelligence officials soon after returning from a meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.