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Al Qaeda in Kashmir: Armitage

International terrorist network Al Qaeda would like "nothing better than a splendid war" between India and Paksitan over Kashmir, American Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said.

Observing that the recent easing of tensions between India and Pakistan remained vulnerable to another terrorist attack within India, Armitage, in an interview to Financial Times, said the US had "snippets" of information that suggested that Al Qaeda could be operating in Kashmir.

"It is quite clear that Al Qaeda likes to fish in troubled waters such as Kashmir and that it would like nothing better than a splendid war between India and Pakistan," said Armitage, who had visited both the countries earlier this month.

During his visit to Islamabad Armitage had extracted a pledge from Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to put a "permanent" end to cross-border terrorism.

Armitage's remarks came nearly two weeks after US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, during his visit to India, said there were indications of Al Qaeda operating near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. However, in Islamabad, where he flew from Delhi, Rumsfeld said US did not have evidence of Al Qaeda operating in Kashmir.

Armitage, in the interview published on Tuesday, also ruled out any mediatory role by the US in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, but said it would work behind the scenes to "inspire" a settlement to the problem.

"The United States is going to stay involved and I trust our good friends from Britain are as well," he said.

Maintaining that the US would play the role of a facilitator, he said: "In the first instance it is important to stop infiltration and in the second instance to follow through and continue to lower the tensions so both sides can have dialogue."

The US diplomat said that he was planning to visit India and Pakistan again in August.

PTI

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