The United States has downplayed calls by Pakistani Islamic leaders for the expulsion of its Ambassador to that country Nancy Powell for her remarks on infiltration across the Line of Control.
''We do believe infiltration should stop completely,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters. That was an issue that the US will continue to work on with the Pakistan government, he added.
He said the US was not worried about calls for Powell's expulsion. ''I think this [infiltration] is a matter where she and President [Pervez] Musharraf have a clear understanding of our work together and what needs to be done ... and she is echoing remarks that have already been made.''
The ambassador's remarks and its fallout would not be a subject of conversation when Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri meets with Secretary of State Colin Powell here next week, Boucher said.
The ambassador was merely echoing the remarks of Musharraf in January last year that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for any terrorist activity anywhere in the world, Boucher said.
Since that assurance, there had
been a lot of steps on Pakistan's part, he said. ''But there is always
more work that ... we need to do with them.'' Infiltration had gone up
somewhat after declining, Boucher said.