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US willing to monitor LoC from
air if both India, Pak agree

T V Parasuram in Washington

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has said US would be happy to consider sharing of intelligence from aerial monitoring of cross-border infiltration along the Line of Control dividing India and Pakistan if the two countries agree.

Armitage, fresh from his tour of India and Pakistan, told television networks that the US does not see the need for its monitors to check on cross-border activity across the LoC but sharing of intelligence can be considered if both sides agree.

About the sharing of intelligence in terms of being able to monitor or verify what is going on, he said: "I think that this is very much something that can be considered, and if there is a willingness from both sides to engage in it, I think the US will be delighted."

Armitage said that he had discussed the monitoring proposal with both sides.

Armitage's remarks assume significance in the backdrop of Western media reports that US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, now in New Delhi, might propose to Indian leadership deployment of a helicopter-borne international monitoring force to check infiltration of militants into Kashmir.

PTI

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