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Mansingh praises US efforts to defuse Indo-Pak tensions

"US President George W Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell have repeatedly called upon Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to stop cross-border terrorism and infiltration and we hope the Pakistani leader will heed the international voice," Mansingh, appearing on National Public Television, said.

Before urging India to enter into a dialogue with Pakistan, the US should persuade Islamabad to end cross-border terrorism, which set off the current standoff between the two nations, he said.

He hoped that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will convey this message during their forthcoming visit to Islamabad.

Vindicating India's proposal for joint patrolling along the Line of Control, Mansingh said the two countries have agreed to deal with all issues relating to Kashmir bilaterally adding that only Indian and Pakistani soldiers can cope with the hilly terrain, which has to be patrolled.

PTI

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