New Delhi: Asserting that the line of control (LoC) between India and Pakistan cannot be changed by violence, the United States on January 11 said it will continue to urge Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to "do everything in his power" to permanently end terrorist infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

"A more normal relationship between India and Pakistan is possible to envision. But the issue of Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed peacefully," US Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill told a gathering of people of Indian origin (PIO) from America.

"Now is clearly a moment of optimism in J and K – one that New Delhi, the Mufti government in the state, and the people of the region can collectively translate into tangible political and economic benefits," he stressed.

Contending that such efforts would not solve the complex issues of Indo-Pakistan differences, terrorist violence, human rights, and governance that converge in J and K, he, however, said these were "important steps in the right direction".

The US envoy was of the view that such measures will bring Kashmir "closer" to a solution that will be peaceful and honourable for all sides, one that will permit Kashmiris to live their daily lives in safety, with dignity and hope for the future.

He said, "Sadly, this extraordinary opportunity continues to be narrowed by terrible acts of terrorist violence in J and K. The LoC cannot be changed by violence. To the contrary, in the absence of a jointly agreed Indo-Pakistani alternative, everyone should act to ensure the continued sanctity of the Loc," he said.

Blackwill said, "For its part, the US will continue to urge President Musharraf to do everything in his power to end permanently terrorist infiltration into J and K."

He said the transformed Indo-US relationship, led by President George W Bush and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee "is in steep assent based on their statesmanship".

Noting that Bush has a "global approach" to Indo-US relations, he said this was consistent with the "rise of India as a world power".

The US envoy said defeating terrorism for the US and India "is a matter of survival for ourselves, for our democratic values, for our religious freedom, for our children, for everything that we hold dear".

He said, "Let us please name those for what they are, who murder innocents for political motives and who seek to bring down the very pillars of our Democracy – in New York, in Washington, at the Assembly in Srinagar, at the Parliament in New Delhi."

Blackwill said these murderers were not "misunderstood idealists. They are not disadvantaged dissidents. They are not religious perfectionists. And they are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists, and we should always be sure to call them exactly that."

Emphasising that the US and India will win the war on terrorism, he said, "That war will not be won until terrorism against India is ended once and for all."

PTI