United States lawmakers have stressed the need to put a stop to the infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir, even as they welcomed the Indo-Pak peace overtures.

"The mood in Washington is that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances," said the co-chairmen of the Congressional Caucus for India and Indian Americans, Democrat Joseph Crowley and Republican Joe Wilson, at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the India Caucus in Washington on Tuesday night.

The function was hosted at the Capitol, the seat of the Senate and House of Representatives, by the Indian Embassy and Confederation of Indian Industry.

"I am pleased by the potential for peace talks but there can be no true movement until General Musharraf (Pakistan president) keeps his pledge and stops support of all cross-border terrorism and ceases all support of terrorist activities," Crowley said.

Wilson said Washington is not buying Musharraf's efforts to 'whitewash' terrorism by calling it a freedom struggle.

A delegation of Indian parliamentarians led by Krishna Bose of Trinamool Congress, who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, also attended the function.

Bose said that September 2001 attacks in the US was a great tragedy, but made the world realise what India is facing in its 20-year continuing struggle against terrorism.