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US intervenes in Indo-Pak crisis

AFP, Washington
The United States Monday urged India and Pakistan to keep diplomatic channels open as the two nuclear rivals slipped closer to war, and confirmed Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage would soon visit South Asia.
Secretary of State Colin Powell -- who mounted an initiative to cool tensions after a December attack on New Delhi's parliament blamed by India on Pakistan-based militants -- intervened again as political temperatures rose over the weekend.
Powell spoke to Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in the latest of a series of calls, which have also included conversations with India's Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
"He's always looking for what the United States can do and how we
can help ease the tensions between them, and that's the context of the phone call," said Boucher.
"We have made clear what our strong concerns are about the potential for conflict between India and Pakistan.
"We think the surest way to lower tensions and resolve the disputes between the neighbours is through more dialogue between them, not less. That makes it important to keep their channels of direct communication open."
That appeared to be a reference to India's decision Saturday to order Pakistan's high commissioner (ambassador) out of the country. Boucher declined to make a direct criticism of the decision.
Boucher also confirmed Armitage would go to South Asia in the latest US bid to quell tensions in the near future, after saying Friday the Bush administration was considering sending a high-level envoy.
Armitage's visit was styled by a senior State Department official as a continuation of US efforts to still tensions which have been simmering since last year, rather a new peace shuttle.
Earlier, Pakistani officials in Islamabad said Armitage would be travel to the region during the first week of June. Boucher was unable to provide dates for the mission, but officials said early June would likely turn out to be right.
President George W. Bush's national security advisor Condoleezza Rice meanwhile warned India to avoid war, but sweetened her remarks with praise for its fight against terrorism.
"We expect the Indian government to recognise that war will help no one here; that neither side, Pakistan nor India, is going to benefit from war," she said.