Washington: Advocating the need for dialogue to resolve Indo-Pak differences, the United States has asked the two countries to "restrain rhetoric and actions" that heighten tensions.

"Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high. We continue to believe both countries should restrain rhetoric and actions that heighten these tensions," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on February 10.

"The only way the differences between India and Pakistan can be resolved is through dialogue," he said.

Boucher said the United States and others in the international community will continue to encourage dialogue and confidence-building.

Referring to the mutual expulsion of diplomats by New Delhi and Islamabad, he said, "India and Pakistan, like all countries, have a sovereign right to determine which diplomats of other states might be accredited to them."

However, Boucher said, the expulsion of diplomats and rhetoric raise tensions, "and we think these kind of actions should be restrained."

PTI