U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is visiting India and Pakistan to implore leaders of both countries to build recent commitments that eased the threat of a third war over Kashmir. Powell told reporters this week he will see if other actions beyond those already taken "will reduce the level of violence or the potential for violence" on the tense subcontinent. He said he will try to promote talks on Kashmir between the feuding neighbors.

India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, seemed to pull back from the brink in early June at the prodding of the United States and others.

Rhetoric about nuclear war and cross-border shelling, which sent thousands of foreigners from India last month, have nearly ended. But a million troops are still facing off along the border, and Islamic militant attacks continue in the disputed Himalayan province of Kashmir.

The Bush administration said infiltration of Islamic militants into the Indian-held part of Kashmir has been reduced, but Indian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said infiltration "is still a cause of major concern."

New Delhi has rejected dialogue until cross-border infiltration is halted. Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff has repeatedly called on India to resume talks.

Musharaff told Associated Press Television News in Islamabad on Friday that he expects Powell's visit "to drive home to India that we need to start a process of dialogue and move forward on the Kashmir dispute."

"We place a lot of importance to his visit," Musharaff said.

Powell was meeting Saturday with India's deputy prime minister, Lal K. Advani, foreign minister Yashwant Sinha and national security adviser Brajesh Mishra. He leaves on Sunday for Pakistan to meet with Musharraf.

From Pakistan, Powell will travel to six Southeast Asian countries. In Brunei, he will meet with more than a dozen Pacific Rim foreign ministers for talks on security and other issues.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Powell wants to ensure there is no backtracking by India and Pakistan from their earlier conciliatory gestures.

Boucher said Musharraf has committed himself to stopping permanently the infiltration of the Islamic militants. He also said India showed good will by redeploying ships away from Pakistani territory and allowing some of its troops to go on leave, among other measures.

PHOTO CAPTION

Secretary of State Colin Powell, right, accompanied by Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah, talks to reporters outside the State Department in Washington, Thursday, July 25, 2002, after their meeting to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Terry Ashe)