WASHINGTON, July 1: The United States said on Thursday that continued missile tests in South Asia were a cause of deep concern for Washington. President Pervez Musharraf told a group of Pakistani newsmen on Wednesday that Pakistan might conduct a major missile test in the next two or three months.

His announcement caused ripples in western capitals, particularly in Washington where defence experts told a meeting on Wednesday that the US should use its influence on both India and Pakistan to prevent further nuclear and missile tests in the region.

The concerns were further heightened by some news agency reports, emanating from a misreporting of Gen Musharraf's comments that Pakistan might also conduct a nuclear test. In Washington, US officials confirmed that they had checked with Islamabad who assured them that President Musharraf never spoke of conducting another nuclear test.

Commenting on the controversy, State Department's deputy spokesman Adam Ereli told a briefing in Washington: "We clearly remain deeply concerned about the dangers that continue to be posed by both nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in South Asia."

Referring to a recent agreement between India and Pakistan on nuclear weapons and missiles, Mr Ereli said: "We are encouraged that India and Pakistan have just agreed to work towards a number of measures to reduce risks in the region."