WASHINGTON, July 18: In a strong expression of support for Islamabad, the State Department has described Pakistan as an ‘indispensable’ ally, which too has been ‘a victim of terror and extremism.’

The department’s spokesman, Richard Boucher, also rejected the Indian demand that Pakistan be put on the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

“Pakistan has been a very stalwart ally in the fight against terrorism,” Boucher said while explaining why Pakistan could not be put on the list.

Describing President Pervez Musharraf’s efforts to fight terrorism at home as ‘fairly bold’, he said the Pakistani president was trying to move Pakistan on a more moderate course and it was in US interest (to) help Pakistan move in that direction.

He told a news briefing here on Wednesday that since Musharraf pledged to curb infiltration into the Indian-held Kashmir, infiltration is down across the Line of Control.

But he emphasized the need to make this curb ‘permanent’ and to take further steps that ‘need to be taken, for example, against the camps where these people could come from.’

Reviewing the global fight against terrorism, Boucher said: “Pakistan in particular has played a role because of its proximity and the bold decisions that President Musharraf has taken.”

He declared that since Sept 11, Pakistan has been and continues to be one of our foremost and indispensable allies in the war against terrorism.

Replying to a question about last week’s attack at a Hindu temple in Jammu in which 27 people were killed, Boucher reminded both India and Pakistan that “it’s vital to all sides in Kashmir to exercise restraint, to take steps to reduce the violence.”

He also urged South Asia’s two nuclear neighbours to try to help create an environment for a political process to resolve the conflict because violence won’t bring peace to Kashmir.

Boucher’s expression of support for Pakistan came a day after the White House warned that South Asia continues to be “an area of great concern and volatility” as Muslim militants step up their activities in both India and Pakistan.

Despite a reduction in tensions along the India, Pakistan border since June the United States has remained engaged in the region.

Later this month, President Bush is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region for talks with Indian and Pakistani leaders. He will be followed by another high-level visitor, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who played a key role in defusing tensions earlier this year when both sides had amassed more than a million troops along the border.

Dismissing media reports that Pakistan has only temporarily halted cross-border movement of militants into Kashmir, Boucher said: “President Musharraf has assured us that infiltration across the line of control will be ended permanently. We continue to look to him to take the steps to make that effective.”

Moving even closer to the Pakistani position that it will not allow its territory to be used for such attacks, Boucher said: “Ensuring that infiltration across the line of control has ended permanently continues to be highest priority for Pakistan, and we’ll continue to follow that issue closely.”

He said during Powell’s visit, the United States would discuss its relations with India and Pakistan separately with each of these governments.

Boucher said: “How the United States works with Pakistan on its role and its position, the reforms that it’s undertaking, the support that we can give to that was different from how we work with India on developing the relationship we have with India.”

But he said during Powell’s visit the United States would also discuss with India and Pakistan the relationship that they have (with each other) — the issue of Kashmir and how to continue to reduce the violence, continue to ease the tensions, and continue to end the infiltration across the Line of Control.

Replying to a question about Musharraf’s proposed constitutional changes, Boucher said that for the United States the return to democracy in Pakistan is very important.

We look to the elections that President Musharraf has announced and reconfirmed for October. We look to those to be held and to open up the democratic process as one of the steps on the road back to democracy. That remains key to us, and we think that remains key to providing Pakistan with the kind of stability that it wants over the longer term.”