WASHINGTON, June 6: The United States considers Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s proposal for joint military border patrols as a “welcome sign” that peaceful means of resolving differences between Pakistan and India are being “actively considered” by the two countries.

A senior State Department official, commenting on the Vajpayee suggestion, said on Thursday while details were not available, the US would support any mechanism agreed to between the two countries that could help to lower tensions in the region.

Pakistan reacted to the proposal by saying it was not new and instead reiterated its view that there should be neutral, third-party monitoring of the Line of Control.

The State Department official said what was good about the proposal was that India at least was talking about “mechanisms to reduce tension in the region rather than decisive victories and things like that,” and that confidence-building measures were at least being considered.

The official underlined the US view that problems between India and Pakistan should be resolved through dialogue and not conflict.

On Wednesday, in an interview with public radio, Secretary of State Colin Powell had said Gen Pervez Musharraf’s efforts to check cross-border incursions did seem to be having some effect.

“In the last couple of days, we have started picking up some indication that would suggest that there is a little less activity going on across the Line of Control,” Powell said.