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We respect India's concern over security: U.S.

WASHINGTON DEC. 30 . Endorsing India's stand on Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism,the U.S. has said it respects New Delhi's concern on threats to its security and asked Islamabad to put an immediate end to infiltration to pave way for dialogue between the two countries.

``We certainly respect India's concerns about threats to its security. We are also committed to see an end to infiltration into Kashmir out of Pakistan'', the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christina Rocca, said.

She was answering a question on how the U.S. can alleviate India's concerns about cross-border terrorism which is standing in the way of a dialogue with Pakistan.

In an interview to NewYork-based India Abroad , Ms.Rocca said ``infiltration has not ended, but we believe it has been reduced. This is an issue we will continue to raise with Pakistan''.

Stressing on resumption of dialogue as the ``only sovereign remedy'' to the long-standing dispute between the two Asian neighbours, she said ``dialogue is very much in India's interest as it is in Pakistan's. This is our message to leaders of both countries. We hope this will be recognised soon''.

``A start should be made to resolve all the differences.''

On Pakistan's supply of equipment and nuclear weapons know-how to North Korea in return for missiles, Ms. Rocca said ``Pakistan recognises very clearly the seriousness of any kind of proliferation activity involving North Korea and the impact this would have on the relationship with the United States.''

Powell expresses hope

In an interview to CNN, the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, expressed the hope that the new year would usher in resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan on all contentious issues, including Kashmir.

Making a brief reference to Indo-Pak. Tension, he claimed it was timely intervention by the international community that averted a nuclear confrontaion between the Asian neighbours last year.

``It is interesting to remember last year's crisis between India and Pakistan. Everybody was afraid that a nuclear war was about to break out there. Then the international community came together, worked with the two parties''.

Describing the situation in Kashmir as ``difficult'', he, however, expressed relief that with both sides de-escalating, the threat of war has receded considerably.

PTI

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