US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca has warned that Pulwama-like incidents could lead to another military standoff like the one India and Pakistan were engaged in last year.

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she said: "We helped to successfully walk India and Pakistan back from the brink of war last year. However, continued terrorism like Sunday night's attack threaten to provoke yet another crisis in the coming months."

In this scenario, avoiding conflict between India and Pakistan was perhaps the most daunting US challenge in South Asia, she said adding "We look to Pakistan to do everything in its power to prevent extremist groups operating from its soil from crossing the Line of Control."

"We will use our good offices to continue to press both sides to take confidence-building steps that will lead to a process of engagement addressing all issues that divide them, including Kashmir."

Rocca said the US was encouraged by the results of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and viewed them as 'the first step in a broader process that can promote peace'.

The new state government, she said, had adopted a 31-point common minimum programme aimed at promoting dialogue, reconciliation, human rights and economic development.

"We are also examining ways in which modest US assistance might bolster some of these positive developments and help build up constituencies for peace," she said.

Pakistan's October 2002 elections re-established a civilian government, and "we are providing assistance towards a full return to democracy there."

Rocca said that even as the US advanced its efforts in West Asia, South Asia remained at the frontlines of the war on terror, and regional stability remained critical.

The US must remain actively and effectively engaged in this region where 'our most vital interests are at stake', she said.

Meanwhile, US Congressman Frank Pallone, co-founder of the India Caucus, has condemned the massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Pulwama district and urged US President George W Bush to put more pressure on Pakistan to end its support to militants responsible for such acts.

In a speech in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Pallone said he feared that US military assistance to Pakistan would be turned around and used against India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I urge President Bush to put more pressure on President  Musharraf of Pakistan to stop Islamic militant infiltration into Kashmir and to end Pakistan's moral and military support to these fundamentalists responsible for the mass murder of the Pandits," he said.

Noting the 'long history of attacks on Pandits', he said it was unfortunate that far from ensuring the safe return of Pandits to Kashmir, the state government has failed to protect the few members of the community who remained in the valley.

"I encourage the coalition government in Kashmir to do justice to the Pandits," Pallone added.

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, co-chairman of the India Caucus, has also condemned the Pulwama killings.

"The fact that the terrorists who committed this act would kill two young children and 11 women demonstrates what a heartless, despicable act this truly was," Wilson said adding "I urge the state government to take decisive action to capture those responsible for committing these murders."