WASHINGTON, Oct 21: The United States has refused to be drawn into the war of words between India and Pakistan over the Mumbai blasts, saying that it has friendly relations with both the countries which prevent it from taking a public stance on this issue.

“In the cases of these new charges going back and forth, I don’t think its appropriate for the US to get involved publicly because we have two friends in the regions, different relationships but two friends,” said US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

The State Department official, who will lead a delegation to India next month, told a group of Indian journalists that relations with both the nations were important for the US.

When asked if he had seen evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the Mumbai blasts, he said: “I don’t think it would be proper for me to share publicly any information coming from us on such a sensitive issue.

“The US has a self interest and obligation to help India to prevent terrorist attacks if it can do that, and also to be a partner with India in the fight against terrorism, just as we are a partner with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Mr Burns, however, indicated that he would discuss the issue with Indian officials in New Delhi next month.

When pressed again for comments on the exchange of allegations, he said: “I don’t think that it is right for us to … take sides … so it’s better to work quietly, behind the scenes.”

Mr Burns said that the US understood that India had been the victim of terrorist attacks over the past year but “the distinguishing feature of this challenge is that it is global in its orientation”.

The US, he said, intended to try to build its counter-terrorism cooperation with India.

ATOMIC BLAST: When reporters tried to link the North Korean nuclear explosion to the proliferation network allegedly run by Dr A.Q. Khan, Mr Burns said: “Pakistan is a friend of the US, a close partner with the US. While we had a major disagreement over the A.Q. Khan network, we believe Pakistan is doing everything it can do now to help us stem the proliferation of nuclear materials in the world.