NEW DELHI (voa) – A top U.S. official attempting to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan says infiltration by Islamic militants into Indian Kashmir to carry out terrorist acts must stop.
Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca made the comment to reporters in New Delhi Wednesday – a day after 34 people, including many women and children, were killed in a Muslim militant attack in Indian Kashmir.
Ms. Rocca said such attacks are intended to undermine peace and stability in the region. She said the United States was still assessing whether the level of infiltration into Indian Kashmir has fallen, but she added that “no matter what the levels are, it’s got to stop.”
Ms. Rocca travels later in the day to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani officials.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, speaking in parliament, called the killing of civilians a “heinous crime” and said India will have to retaliate. But he said he will call a meeting of all political parties to discuss New Delhi’s response.
India’s Defense Minister George Fernandes said India holds Pakistan directly responsible for Tuesday’s attack on a bus and an army camp near the city of Jammu. Mr. Fernandes made the charge during a visit to the camp Wednesday.
The Pakistani government has condemned the attack and rejected Indian allegations that Pakistan supports terrorist attacks.
Observers say Ms. Rocca’s visit to the region is an indication of mounting U.S. concern that the South Asian nuclear rivals could be edging toward war.
Both sides have massed thousands of troops along their border, backed by tanks, missile batteries and warplanes. The build-up followed last December’s terrorist attack on the Indian parliament, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militant groups.
