WASHINGTON, (AFP)-The United States urged India and Pakistan to tone down their rhetoric after last week's attack on the Indian parliament boosted tension between the nuclear rivals US officials fear "could spiral out of control."
The White House and the State Department said the two south Asian nuclear rivals needed to weigh carefully any steps they take to deal with the December 13 suicide assault, which India blames on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.
Spokesmen for both urged the two countries to proceed carefully, telling India to back off on accusations of who was responsible for the attack until an investigation is complete and advising Pakistan it needed to move against extremists.
"India has a legitimate right to self-defense," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, noting President George W. Bush's concerns about actions taken by either side that could prove precipitous.
"At the same time, the president counsels that this is a very difficult situation in the region, and one that could spiral out of control," he said.
Bush "urges that both sides share information, work with each other and take no action that would in any way hinder the war against terrorism, to which both India and Pakistan have committed themselves."
At the State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington was in close touch with both capitals, advising restraint.
Boucher made clear that Indian threats and predictions of a response against Pakistan before New Delhi's investigation into the attack was complete were not helpful.
At the same time, Boucher said Pakistan must take steps to control extremist violence emanating from within its territory.