WASHINGTON, Oct 23: The war of words between Pakistan and India that has heated up in the last few days has caught the United States in the middle, with Washington, worried that tensions across the Line of Control may distract attention from the campaign in Afghanistan, seeking to act as a fire brigade to hose down subcontinental tensions.

Secretary of State Colin Powell has once again said he will try to get a dialogue started between India and Pakistan and hoped that neither side will allow the situation to deteriorate.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Secretary Powell, who last week visited both countries, said: “Obviously, there’s tension between India and Pakistan still and that flared up on my stay in the night in Pakistan and on my way to India the next morning when we saw the firing over the Line of Control.

“At the same time, I think both sides are realizing, even though this is a very difficult issue for them, they can’t let it get out of control. The stakes are too high. Both sides are committed to the coalition. Both sides are helping the United States and other coalition members. Both sides are working with us on a future for Afghanistan, and both sides realize that for peace and stability in their part of the world, they’ve got to get this right. So I sense that even though there’s tension, I understand that they have to act with enormous restraint.

“Both sides said that they are anxious to get a dialogue started. They are having a little difficulty getting that dialogue started. I will try to be helpful in that regard. I think they are both committed to the campaign against terrorism .....”

The Indian PM was reported on Tuesday to have turned down any suggestion for a dialogue with Pakistan at this stage.

The Indian premier is due to visit Washington on Nov 9 for a meeting with President George Bush after taking part in the UN General Assembly session.

The session was earlier scheduled for the third week of Sept, but was put off because of the attacks on New York and Washington.