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Indo-Pak tension has lessened: Armitage

After a 35-minute meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Armitage told reporters that he felt tension was "a bit down on both sides".

He said, "I did have discussions both here [New Delhi] and in Islamabad about the possibilities and modalities of monitoring the LoC, but no decision has been taken as yet as per my knowledge."

"President [Pervez] Musharraf has made it clear to me that he intends to do everything he can to avoid a war consistent with the honour and dignity of Pakistan," Armitage, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday morning after holding talks in Islamabad, said.

Armitage dismissed as media speculation reports that the US and United Kingdom would join the monitoring of the LoC.

Stating that he had briefed the Indian leadership about the "tone, tenor and full content" of his discussions with Musharraf, he said this included the "commitment" of the Pakistani president to the US "to stop cross-border infiltration permanently".

Musharraf "spent his time to explain his desire to avoid a war... I didn't say he had promised anything," Armitage said in reply to a question.

Describing his discussions with Vajpayee and other Indian leaders as "very good", Armitage said India also intended to avoid a war but "they do want terrorism to stop. And, in this regard, we share that view".

Armitage said there were "people of goodwill" in both countries who wanted to bring down tension, which was also the desire of the international community.

About foreign media reports regarding deployment of helicopters to monitor the border, he said "these speculations seem to be far-fetched" as the high altitudes of the Himalayas cannot be patrolled.

He parried a question on how much time would the US give to Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism saying, "You can ask the Indian leadership."

PTI

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