Mr Armitage, on his second South Asia visit this year, said the United States was working to encourage talks to end the standoff between Islamabad and Delhi.
“We are trying to bring about a situation where there can be a dialogue and two parties can sit down face to face to speak about these matters,” he told reporters after talks with President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Armitage, who was in India on Friday, said tensions between the two countries were not as bad as they were on his visit in June.
“I think you should take careful note of the different circumstances that exist now compared to a couple of months ago when I was here,” he said. “Clearly the tensions and rhetoric are somewhat down at present.”
Until Mr Armitage’s visit in June, India and Pakistan had appeared to be on the brink of their fourth war following a major attack on an Indian army camp in occupied Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on militants.
Incidents of artillery and small arms fire across the Line of Control fell off dramatically since June, but on Friday Pakistan said that India had committed “a highly escalatory act” by launching a ground and air attack on a mountain post the previous night.
Mr Armitage declined to comment when asked about Pakistan’s claim about the Indian airstrike.
“I think the facts on the ground are not something that the United States can judge...but I think the facts would become clear over the time,” he said.
“I think any violence is regrettable but I don’t think it interferes with this mission in any way.”
Mr Armitage said some obvious infiltration of guerillas was continuing across the Line of Control, but Pakistan had assured him it was not responsible.
“I can say nothing has changed from the assurances I was given last June when I was here. And there are some obvious infiltrations across the Line of Control, but our friends in Pakistan assured me it is not something sponsored by Pakistan.”
He added: “I think that no one here in Pakistan or in India feels that the government of Pakistan is solely and completely responsible (for) activities across the border.”
Mr Armitage said the United States would continue its peace efforts.
“The United States has extended its good offices and is prepared to continue to extend those offices. We want the best possible future for our friends here in Pakistan and in India.”
Mr Armitage said US President George W. Bush was looking forward to continuing discussions on US-Pakistan relations at a meeting with President Musharraf in New York on Sept 12.
ASSURANCES: Mr Armitage said he had received assurances Pakistan was doing its best to stop militants crossing into occupied Kashmir.
He said the facts surrounding the alleged Indian ground and air attack on a Pakistani post on Thursday would emerge in the fullness of time, but reiterated statements he made in New Delhi on Friday that the US was putting an “extraordinary amount of attention” into helping resolve outstanding issues between India and Pakistan.
“We do not want to impose a solution, and cannot impose a solution. Ultimately the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the leaders of these two great countries.” —Reuters/AFP