WASHINGTON, May 21: There were still no firm dates available on Tuesday for the projected visit to South Asia of Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to contain the Indo-Pakistan crisis.

The most likely time is said to be towards the end of the first week of June. Mr Armitage has to stay in Washington during Secretary of State Colin Powell’s absence for the US-Russia summit in Moscow. The daily rising tensions between India and Pakistan are expected to figure high on the summit’s agenda.

At his State Department briefing on Monday afternoon, spokesman Richard Boucher reiterated that the US had made its strong concerns about a possible conflict between Pakistan and India clear, and had been working with both countries to lower tensions.

Mr Boucher also underlined the need for India and Pakistan to keep “channels of direct communication open”. Asked whether this remark related to the Indian decision to expel the Pakistani high commisioner, Mr Boucher said it related to “any steps that make it more difficult to have that dialogue. We would in fact encourage them to continue a dialogue, not to cut off channels.”

QUESTION: .... Well, what is your reaction to the expulsion of the ambassador (Pakistan high commissioner).