Islamabad all for peace, says Armitage

11 Jan, 2004

Pakistan is sincere in seeking peace with India after its pledge not to allow "terrorism" from its territory, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in an interview broadcast on Saturday.
"It is clear to me that the Government of Pakistan is exerting efforts. They want to give this peace initiative a chance," Armitage told the Indian news channel NDTV.
"I don't ascribe all of the cross-border violence across the Line of Control to the government of Pakistan," Armitage said.
He said President Pervez Musharraf "will not be terrorised into going along another path other than the search for peace on which he is engaged with (Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari) Vajpayee."
"This is good for India, good for Pakistan and God knows it is good for the people of Kashmir," Armitage said.
Armitage said the United States has at "key moments" talked to Pakistan and India to bring down tensions, but dismissed speculation that Washington brokered the breakthrough.
""No, I think that gives us too much credit," Armitage said when asked if Washington acted as a "facilitator" between New Delhi and Islamabad.

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