WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (UNI): The United States believes that the maintenance of the sanctity of the line of control in Kashmir and the exercise of restraint are very important in avoiding conflict between India and Pakistan, secretary of state Colin Powell has said.
Kashmir has always been a contentious issue between the two nations, he told reporters enroute to the Indian subcontinent.
He called upon them to avoid provocative acts, which could lead to conflicts.
"I hope we will have that as a mutual goal in our discussions," he said.
Powell said he would discuss with Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf the limits on military sales to Pakistan.
"Right now there are no huge proposals or programmes that Pakistan has expressed an interest in," he added.
The issue was certain to come up in India as well, he said.
"We think it is useful to have military to military relations with both the countries, giving them the opportunity to train their officers, their military leaders in our schools and for us to send some of our folks to their schools as well." Asked what message he hoped to send out with the trip to India and Pakistan, he said that to some extent "the trip is the message." He said he wanted to meet Musharraf and prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, "listen to them and get their assessment of the situation in the region as a result of the events of September 11." Powell said he would have the chance to talk about the future of Afghanistan during talks with the two leaders.
"I want to hear the assessment of these two distinguished leaders and their associates, their perspective on this and any advice they have for us." He said he would also be discussing "a wide number" of bilateral issues with Vajpayee and Musharraf.
Asked how concerned he was about the level of anti-American violence in Pakistan, he said the demonstrations in Pakistan were fairly modest for a country of its size.
"They do not seem to be beyond the ability of the government to manage, control, and to let people have the opportunity to demonstrate."