Effort to diffuse Kashmir row 'making progress'

US Defense Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld said today that an intense international campaign to defuse tensions between Pakistan…

US Defense Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld said today that an intense international campaign to defuse tensions between Pakistan and India was making progress.

"The goal of President Bush, Secretary Colin Powell, Prime Minister Blair and so many leaders round the world is to see that the tensions are reduced and I think that progress is being made," he said.

Mr Donald Rumsfeld (L) shakes the hand of Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes in New Delhi

"I must say that I think that the world has been in recent days observing leadership that has contributed to the reduction of some of that tension," he said after talks with the Pakistani and Indian leaders.

However, Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar told a joint press conference that despite recent Indian moves aimed at defusing the crisis, the situation on the heavily militarised border remained dangerous.

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"There is no change whatsoever of the capability of Indian forces massed on our border. Therefore there is no reduction of the threat," he said.

AFP