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T V Parasuram in Washington
The United States on Tuesday said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's action against extremism held the key to defusing the current India-Pakistan tensions as well the future of Pakistan.
Asked to comment on Musharraf's statement that he is moving against violence and extremism, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher described it as 'a process the US has certainly supported and welcomed and that holds the key to defusing tensions with India and also the future of Pakistan itself'.
On the Kashmir issue, he said the US has encouraged contact between the two parties over that and it would continue to encourage that.
Terming the India-Pakistan situation as 'dangerous', Boucher said, "We all need to look for ways to de-escalate the situation."
Noting Musharraf's statement after discussions with British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he said the US expected Pakistan to continue to move against terrorist organisations because of the danger they pose to Pakistan and its neighbours.
Boucher said the US was looking forward to Musharraf's stated plan to make a speech in the coming days in which he spell out the course Pakistan needs to follow.
Asked about the list of 20 terrorists and criminals India wants Pakistan to hand over to India, Boucher said he had nothing new to say on the subject.
When a correspondent wanted to know whether the US is playing a role on the Kashmir issue, he pointed out that Powell has said repeatedly and the state department has said before that the US is willing to help out anyway it can.
"That has always been the US position and that is the position the Secretary took as he travelled there last fall," Boucher added.
"Certainly, the US is making efforts right now to see what could be done to de-escalate the tensions. Whether the two countries would want the US to make any further effort remains to be seen," he said.
A correspondent asked whether the consent or request from both India and Pakistan was needed for the US to get involved in Kashmir. Boucher replied, "I do not know of any situation in the world where we could help the parties without the parties wanting us to help."
Related Reports: Continue crackdown on terrorists, Bush tells Pak India, Pak standoff serious: Bush Musharraf wants US to draw line in support to India We want peace with India: Pakistan
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