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US attempting to work out monitoring
mechanism for LoC: Armitage

K J M Varma in Islamabad

Carrying forward efforts to resolve the "volatile and complicated" Indo-Pak military standoff, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on Thursday said he was attempting to work out a monitoring mechanism for the Line of Control to permanently prevent infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir.

After a nearly two-hour-long meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad, Armitage said cessation of militant activity along the Indo-Pak border was discussed and he was "very heartened" to hear from the military ruler that he would do everything to avoid a war with India.

Armitage, who will be holding talks with Indian leaders in New Delhi on Friday, said: "We were able to discuss with the president his concept of cessation of activities across the LoC."

When asked about India's proposal for joint patrolling of the LoC with Pakistani troops and Pakistan's suggestion to deploy UN observers, he said: "We are discussing our sources of monitoring mechanism without any prejudices."

The official Pakistani media interpreted his comment of "our" source of monitoring mechanism as suggesting deployment of joint British-US military monitoring force for Kashmir.

Asked about his assessment of the situation, he said: "Of course, it is quite complicated and volatile."

About deployment of UN observers along the LoC, he said India had shot down the proposal.

Armitage said Musharraf made it "very clear to me that he wants to do everything what he can to avoid a war. I think that is a very good basis on which we proceed."

"I think that is same case with India. We need to do our best to bring down the temperature. President Bush and Secretary Powell were very keen on having United States to play its part," he said.

He, however, gave no assurance of any immediate calming of tensions between the two neighbours.

Asked if he would term his visit here a success, Armitage said: "Time will tell; I will definitely like to hear what President Musharraf would like to say on that."

On India's assertion that cross-border terrorism was continuing, Armitage said Musharraf had made it clear to him that nothing was happening along the LoC. "We are looking for that to hold over in the long run," he said.

"President Musharraf expressed his absolute determination to continue to prosecute the war on Al Qaeda. He was very articulate on his hopes and aspirations for the people of Pakistan and the region. He made it clear that nothing is happening across the Line Of Control," he told PTV.

About India's suggestion of joint patrolling, he said such things should be discussed privately. "I think it is not good to discuss these things right now."

He also appreciated the cooperation extended by Pakistan for the US war against the Al Qaeda adding its efforts against terrorism have remained unaffected by the Indo-Pak stand-off.

"In my view the activities on Pakistan's western borders seemed to be unaffected," he said.

Besides Musharraf, Armitage has also held talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and Foreign Secretary Imanul Haq.

PTI

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