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Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday night said the United States is 'anxious' to see a dialogue between India and Pakistan on all issues, including Kashmir.
Powell hoped that the standoff between India and Pakistan in the wake of the recent tensions will be resolved as 'quickly as possible'.
Addressing a news conference after talks with the External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Powell said the US is willing to 'stand by' the two countries to help resolve their bilateral problems.
Singh said India would respond adequately and effectively after seeing Pakistan's actions to combat terrorism on the ground.
Powell said Musharraf has taken some steps and it was for India to judge whether these actions constituted a sufficient basis for them to change their polices regarding Pakistan.
Powell, who was accompanied by Singh at the news conference, said the question of Kashmir has to be resolved through 'a direct dialogue' between India and Pakistan.
"US is always ready to bring about a dialogue ... and is always ready to assist the two friends," he said.
Asked to comment on India's demand for Pakistan to act on its promises, Powell said it was 'perfectly understandable' for India to judge on the basis of measures taken by President Musharraf if they were sufficient to change New Delhi's policies at the moment.
On India's demand for extradition of 20 terrorists and criminals based in Pakistan, Powell said India was sending more evidence to Islamabad for action against them.
Powell said he had been told during his talks with Pakistani leaders on Wednesday that 'action will be taken against non-Pakistanis' figuring in the list of 20 terrorists and criminals.
So far as Pakistani nationals were concerned, he said, Islamabad would act in accordance with Pakistani law provided more evidence was given against them.
"The more evidence we can provide, the better," he said, adding that Islamabad was awaiting 'more evidence'.
Asked about US reaction on the issue of converting the Line of Control into an international border, Powell said, "We are anxious to see a dialogue between India and Pakistan on all these issues including Kashmir. We hope the current situation is resolved as quickly as possible. It has to be resolved through a dialogue. US will stand by to help the two friends."
On his statement in Islamabad on Wednesday night that he was carrying 'some ideas' to New Delhi for resolution of Indo-Pak issues, he said, "I have shared some of these ideas with the external affairs minister and hope to do so with Prime Minister on Friday. I don't want to share them with you before that."
Replying to questions, Singh said Pakistan must translate on the ground the promises it has made to end cross-border terrorism.
"As soon as we see (such action), we will respond adequately and fully," the external affairs minister said.
Powell said that the Pakistan government had informed him that 'appropriate action may involve return' of the non-Pakistani criminals from where they came provided New Delhi gave adequate evidence against them.
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