WASHINGTON, Aug 28 The United States would like to see the Balochistan dispute settled within the framework of a strong and unified Pakistan, the US State Department said on Monday.  

Talking to Dawn, a State Department official also said that the deaths of Nawab Akbar Bugti and his supporters in a military raid earlier this week would have ‘no affect’ on US-Pakistan relations.  

State Department officials talking to the media other than at a regular press briefing are not identified.  

“We know that he was a Bloch tribal leader and politician who joined those taking up arms to demand increased autonomy, including local control of the province’s natural resources,” said the State Department official when asked what the US thought of the slain Baloch leader.  

“The US would like to see these issues resolved peacefully and within the framework of a strong and unified Pakistan,” he added.  

The reaction, although carefully crafted, shows a strong US tilt towards Pakistan’s position that Mr Bugti was killed in an armed encounter and because he had taken up arms against the state.  

The official also declined to comment on media reports that US-supplied helicopters were used in the action that led to Mr Bugti’s death.

“I am not in a position to comment on that,” said the official when asked if the US was concerned that the weapons given to fight Al Qaeda were used against Baloch leader.   Diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn that they did not expect a strong US reaction against the use of American weapons.