US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday dismissed Indian remarks likening Pakistan to Iraq.
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said on Wednesday there was a stronger case for military action against Pakistan than Iraq.
He said Pakistan possessed weapons of mass destruction, a reason cited by Washington to wage war on Iraq, and harboured terror groups.
"I don't think that there is a direct parallel between the two situations," Powell told state-run Pakistan Television.
He said Washington was in 'very close touch' with both Pakistan and India.
"We do have a very difficult and a painful situation with respect to actions across the Line of Control," he said.
"We are looking to help the two parties to resolve this in a peaceful way," he added.