ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: A foreign ministry official on Sunday challenged an assessment by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that tensions between Pakistan and India had eased as “optimistic”.

Spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan told AFP that as long as Indian troops remained in “offensive positions”, tensions between the two nations would remain high.

“It’s still a very dangerous situation and only when Indian troops are redeployed to peacetime positions will the danger be over.

“(But) regarding the situation in Kashmir ... we are ready for talks anytime, any place and at any level as we believe the use of force is futile and uncivilized,” Mr Khan said.

Mr Armitage left Pakistan for China on Sunday, after saying tensions which threatened war between Islamabad and New Delhi had eased.—AFP