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Indo-Pak tensions have reached critical point: India Caucus co-chairman

"I am deeply concerned about the rhetoric in the region. There is no benefit to Pakistan and India (in) going to war," Royce said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan, said Royce, have reached a 'critical point'.

He also expressed concern about reports that Pakistan is withdrawing its 4,000-strong UN peacekeeping contingent from Sierra Leone and placing the troops on the India-Pakistan border.

"This could further escalate tension in the region," he said.

Royce also commended US President George W Bush's call to his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf to end cross-border terrorism.

Bush, while in Russia meeting with President Vladimir Putin, had said: "It is very important that President Musharraf does what he said he was going to do in his speech on terrorism, and that is to stop the incursions across the border."

Referring to recent terrorist attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists who infiltrated into Kashmir, Royce said: "It was my hope that Musharraf's speech in January, when he aligned his country with the international mainstream by rejecting terrorism, would be seen as a turning point."

"President Bush was right to say that it is time for Musharraf to 'show results' in fighting terrorism," he said.

PTI

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