15 July 2004	Thursday	26 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

NEW DELHI, July 14: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on Wednesday he would urge Pakistan to use more muscle against the remnants of the Taliban forces on its territory.

He also agreed to Indian claims that some infrastructure to support 'cross-border terrorism' in Kashmir still existed across the Line of Control. "We certainly are satisfied that the battle against Al Qaeda is one in which our Pakistani friends have engaged full force," Mr Armitage told a news conference shortly before leaving for Islamabad.

"On the whole the question of the Taliban is a little more complicated because of the historic relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban. I myself will be trying to encourage Pakistanis to be a little more muscular on that end as well."

Asked to give his assessment on Kashmir, he said: "Clearly, all the infrastructure that supports cross-border terrorism has not been dismantled. Some has been dismantled."

He said: "Any level of infiltration is too much from our point of view. There is infiltration. You get various opinions here about whether it is up or down. It is down probably.

But the point is not to have it at all. People are still dying. It is not acceptable." Mr Armitage said he believed India and Pakistan were growing more confident of the peace process intended to end years of tension over the disputed region of Kashmir.

"I would say that from what I have heard here in India, the process which is ongoing between Pakistan and India, the composite dialogue is one that seems to find great favour here," Mr Armitage said. "I am sure I will hear the same thing on Pakistani side. And I think as we continue forward, you'll find more and more confidence being developed on both sides."

Arrives in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 14: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage arrived here on Wednesday from New Delhi.