WASHINGTON, Jan 17: US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld expressed hope on Thursday that tension between nuclear neighbours India and Pakistan will ease soon, warning that it was in neither country’s interests to remain at a high state of military mobilization for long.

Rumsfeld made the comments after signing an agreement with visiting Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes that clears the way for revived US arms sales to India and greater military-to-military cooperation after a three-year break.

“I do not believe it is in either of their country’s interests to stay for long periods in a state of high mobilization,” Rumsfeld said with Fernandes at his side. “I think it’s unhelpful to them, its unhelpful to the world.”

He said he was “hopeful” that Indian and Pakistani leaders would find ways to discuss their differences, either directly of indirectly, “and that over the coming weeks and days we will see a relaxation of that tension.” The crisis has caused Pakistan to shift troops and military resources away from its western border with Afghanistan where they have been used to block the entry of fleeing Al Qaeda fighters.

It also has put a squeeze on US access to bases in Pakistan and prompted detailed discussions between US and Pakistani military over the disposition of US forces in the event of a conflict between Pakistan and India, which have fought three wars since independence.

“We are most anxious to see that the terrorists in the Taliban and the Al Qaeda do not escape out of Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Rumsfeld said.

“It’s not in Pakistan’s interest. It’s not in our interest. It’s not in Afghanistan’s interest, because they can come right back across that border. And it’s certainly not in India’s interest.

But Fernandes, who joined Rumsfeld at a Pentagon news briefing, gave no indications that India was prepared to take steps to defuse the military tensions despite a speech by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday outlawing militant groups.

He said India had to take “some very strong steps” in response to a suicide attack on the Indian parliament Dec 13.—AFP