U.S. Praises Pakistan And "Positive Developments" Over Kashmir
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States on Monday welcomed Pakistan's promise of restraint along the tense Line of Control in Kashmir as a "positive" development in relations between Islamabad and its nuclear-rival India.
Pakistan gave the undertaking on Saturday in what is being seen as a response to India's offer of a ceasefire to Kashmiri groups during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
"There have been positive developments," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.
"The government of Pakistan has reiterated its intention to exercise maximum restraint along the Line of Control in Kashmir, and we certainly welcome that."
Boucher said the move was an important compliment to India's ceasefire - which came into effect last week.
The U.S. position on the flashpoint region is that it is a dangerous threat to peace that must be solved with negotiations, but it stops short of taking an official role as a broker between India and Pakistan.
Amid signs of a tentative easing of tension between the two archrivals, India reacted to Pakistan's announcement on Monday with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee saying New Delhi's ceasefire could be extended if the Islamabad government cooperated.
But he also called on Pakistan to end cross-border "terrorism" and violence and adopt a posture of peace and friendship with India to create "a conducive atmosphere."
India's unilateral ceasefire came into force on November 27th at midnight across the troubled Kashmir Valley to mark Ramadan. But it was rejected by most Kashmiri groups who have vowed to step up attacks during the period.
Indian Kashmir's main separatist forum, the Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, which groups more than 20 outfits, welcomed the peace moves and Islamabad's offer to exercise "maximum restraint" on the Kashmir border.
Pakistan has also invited Hurriyat leaders for talks on the Kashmir problem.
India and Pakistan, which administer parts of Kashmir, have fought two wars and a border conflict over the region since independence in 1947.
India blames Pakistan for a Kashmiri campaign in its part of the state. Islamabad denies the charge but extends moral and diplomatic support to the fighters.
The conflict has claimed more than 34,000 lives since 1989.
