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Tension abating, but crisis not over: US

T V Parasuram in Washington

The United States has said that tension between India and Pakistan will continue in varying degrees so long as there are territorial differences between the two nations and international efforts will be constantly required to keep it at the level it is now.

"So long as there are two sides who face off a disputed area, a territory like this, tension will remain at varying degrees and at various points," White House Press Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said on Monday night referring to Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's statement that tensions may be defused, but not the crisis.

"Suffice it to say there has been a substantial amount of American diplomacy, from the presidential level to the diplomatic level, and now Secretary Rumsfeld will go as well. This is a region of the world that will require ongoing monitoring, and ongoing assistance to keep tensions at the level they are now down to, and that is important and it will be ongoing," he said.

Asked whether a presidential trip to India and Pakistan is still on, Fleischer pointed out that nothing like that was ever announced or scheduled.

Indo-Pak tensions also figured at the state department briefing where department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "We welcome signs that tensions between India and Pakistan are beginning to lessen."

"These include," he said, "positive statements by the leadership of both countries, and now India's announcement that Pakistani aircraft can resume flights over Indian territory."

"Armies on both sides remain mobilised, however, and both sides need to continue to seek to lower tensions," he said.

However, he said, the US has still not withdrawn its order advising U S citizens in India to leave the country. "No, at this point we haven't changed our advice to Americans... though we do note that tensions are beginning to lessen, the crisis isn't over. The forces, as I said, remain mobilised and we need to see further steps from both sides to try to lower the tensions."

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