18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

WASHINGTON, Feb 17: The United States said on Tuesday it hopes the Islamabad talks would help normalize relations between India and Pakistan, but played down a direct US involvement in furthering the peace process.

A US State Department official, while talking to Dawn here, said the United States hopes that the Islamabad talks would help remove impediments that have prevented the two countries from normalizing their relations.

"Greater engagement between them can help lead to resolution of differences, moving toward a permanent end of conflict," said the official.

He said: "The United States applauds these and other initiatives by both the countries to remove impediments to normal relations and to seek peace."

Asked if the US government would like to help India and Pakistan in improving their relations, the official said: "We are willing to help both with whatever both the sides want but they seem to be doing pretty well without our help."

The United States has been very careful in commenting on the peace process, which jump-started at the Saarc conference in Islamabad early last month after two years of extreme tension.

Although Washington has been quietly encouraging both India and Pakistan to normalize their relations, publicly it plays down its role. In private conversations US officials acknowledge that a high-profile US involvement could harm the peace process.