Indian officials said Monday that the detentions were not enough to defuse the military standoff, and Pakistan said yesterday it will seek US help to mediate with India when US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives in the Pakistani capital today.
"Pakistan views the tour as a major opportunity to press for opening of a dialogue process between India and Pakistan," a foreign ministry official said.
"Certainly Pakistan would be hoping the US would use its influence over New Delhi to de-escalate the tensions ... and bring India to the negotiating table for resolving all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir," he said.
But Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes, who was due to leave for the US later yesterday, ruled out any role for Washington as a mediator or a facilitator for talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.
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