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US expresses concern

C K Arora in Washington

The Bill Clinton administration has expressed concern at the incident involving the shooting down of the Pakistani naval aircraft. ''Such incidents illustrate the continued high tension between India and Pakistan and we would like the two countries to resolve their differences through dialogue,'' a state department official said.

''We hope that with respect to this particular incident, appropriate officials of the two governments are in touch with each other,'' he said.

Earlier, David Leavy, spokesman for the National Security Council, said Washington was monitoring reports about the downing of the aircraft but had no independent confirmation of the incident.

''We are concerned about an increase in tension,'' he said.

He said the US was urging both countries to return to the Lahore process. ''We think that's in both sides' interest,'' Leavy said.

The US had asked its missions in New Delhi and Islamabad to furnish details of the incident in view of the conflicting reports.

UNI

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