Powell Urges India, Pakistan to Refrain From Escalating Tensions

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 17, 2001

Powell Urges India, Pakistan to Refrain From Escalating Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday urged India and Pakistan to refrain from escalating tensions between the two countries following a recent suicide attack on the Indian Parliament.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday urged India and Pakistan to refrain from escalating tensions between the two countries following a recent suicide attack on the Indian Parliament.

"I think it is very tense. It has the potential of becoming very dangerous," Powell said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

He said Washington does not want to see the rhetoric to get so ratcheted up that it is then followed by action which lets the whole situation go out of control.

He stressed that the U.S. is encouraging both sides "to share information with each other and to come together in this campaign against terrorism."

A group of suicide attackers assailed the Indian Parliament on Thursday, killing 12 people. India blamed a Pakistan-based Islamicmilitant group for the attack and vowed revenge. Pakistan, which condemned the attacks, rejected the Indian charges.

2 Arrested in Connection with Parliament Attack

India Says All 5 Terrorists Pakistanis