Musharraf firm on Kashmir infiltration

Rebel incursions have dramatically diminished

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has reiterated his pledge to the US to end the infiltration of militants into Indian-administered Kashmir.

It's a commitment that's been made very clear and President Musharraf has made very clear to us that he stands by it

US State Department spokesman

Reports said he gave the assurance to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who telephoned him at the weekend.

Mr Powell called the Pakistani leader after reading an interview in which General Musharraf appeared to back down on a promise to halt the infiltrations permanently.

Pakistan promised earlier this month to stop militants crossing from the Pakistani-held portion of Kashmir into Indian-administered territory to mount attacks.

The promise was aimed at reducing tensions with India, which has made a halt to incursions a key demand for any resumption of dialogue between the two South Asia rivals.

US concern

Mr Powell was reportedly concerned at comments by the general in a Washington Post interview over the weekend.

Powell: looking for reassurance

"I'm not going to give you an assurance that for years nothing will happen," General Musharraf was quoted as saying in reference to militant incursions.

But US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Monday General Musharraf repeated the same pledge to Mr Powell that he made earlier this month to visiting Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

"Deputy Secretary Armitage was given assurances by President Musharraf on 6 June that ending of infiltration across the Line of Control would be permanent," Mr Boucher was quoted as saying.

Mr Boucher added that Washington had seen "positive results" since that pledge.

"It's a commitment that's been made very clear and President Musharraf has made very clear to us that he stands by it," he said.

Border tension

India and Pakistan have massed a million troops along their border and the Line of Control dividing Kashmir since December when militants attacked the Indian parliament in Delhi.

President Musharraf repeated earlier pledges

India accuses its neighbour of sponsoring "cross-border terrorism" by sending militants to attack Indian targets.

Pakistan insists it merely offers moral support to freedom fighters.

India has acknowledged Pakistani efforts to rein in Islamic militants, saying there has been a sharp drop in cross-border incursions.

India Defence Minister George Fernandes has said Indian troops could be pulled back if incursions remained halted for a month, or at most two.

Delhi has said it will not consider negotiations with Pakistan until this happens.

Islamabad, for its part, has said it is willing to start talks at any time.