Archives

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (AFP) - The United States on Monday told India and Pakistan to cool their rhetoric, after the bitter rivals threw out senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat row which further soured their relations.

"Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high. We continue to believe that both countries should restrain rhetoric and actions that heighten those tensions," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

"The only way the differences between India and Pakistan can be resolved is through dialogue. The United States and others in the international community will continue to encourage dialogue and confidence-building," Boucher said.

The latest drama started when Pakistan's top diplomat in New Delhi Jalil Abbas Jeelani, was accused on Thursday of giving 6,250 dollars to militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.

He was among five Pakistani diplomats and staffers who were ordered Saturday to leave India within 48 hours.

India's acting high commissioner (ambassador) Sudhir Vyas and four others were expelled by Pakistan in a retaliatory move also on Saturday,

Both delegations crossed the India-Pakistan border in different directions on Monday.

The United States has led international efforts to ease tensions between the two rivals in the past year and a half, sending senior officials on crisis-reduction missions amid fears the standoff could spill over into nuclear war.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager