WASHINGTON, May 31: The United States says it has seen indications that Pakistan has given instructions to stop “infiltrations” across the Line of Control in Kashmir.

The US understanding of the latest development was indicated by both Secretary of State Colin Powell in an interview with the BBC and by State Department spokesman Richard Boucher at his briefing on Friday afternoon.

Mr Powell told the BBC’s Washington correspondent that if infiltration ceased, he would be asking India to withdraw its forces. In an explicit warning about the dangers of a nuclear exchange, Mr Powell said the whole world would condemn whoever was responsible.

Mr Boucher said the US had some indications of instructions given by Pakistani authorities to stop infiltration and would now watch for the results on the ground.

The US was still looking for confirmation that infiltration had in fact stopped, but Mr Boucher said he was not prepared to go into further details at this point. He said neither side should contemplate hostilities that would involve nuclear weapons.

The spokesman also revealed that Secretary Powell had talked to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday as part of on going efforts to lessen tensions in South Asia.