New Delhi: India on May 16 said the US was "legitimately concerned" about preventing a war with Pakistan, but made it clear that there was no role for third party mediation on Kashmir.

"When it comes to dialogue with Pakistan, there is no third seat on the table. And they are fully aware of it," Prime Minister's Principal Secretary and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra told 'NDTV'.

Asked about the US role on Indo-Pak issues, he said, "They are legitimately concerned about avoiding a war, preventing a war between India and Pakistan, which could in turn lead to a nuclear holocaust."

Significantly, Mishra's comments came as Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said the US and the international community have a role to play on Kashmir, under whatever name it is called – "mediation, pressure, facilitation, encouragement".

Kasuri was addressing the Heritage Foundation, a non-government think tank, in Washington on May 15.

Mishra, who briefed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Manali on his recent talks in Washington with President George W Bush, his American counterpart Condoleeza Rice and other leaders, denied there was any pressure on India from the US.

"When they come to us and say exercise restraint, we tell them to go and talk to Pakistan," Mishra said.

Question: And, they never talk down to us?

Mishra: "No, never."

The Pakistan Minister contended that there could be no solution to the Kashmir problem unless aspirations of the people of Kashmir are taken into consideration.

"Even if we show flexibility," he said, "flexibility will extend only so far and we will have to tackle the aspirations of the people of Kashmir."

The Palestine and Kashmir problems are left over from the colonial era, he said. "One way is to shut our eyes and hope it will go away. The other is to try and meet the situation."

PTI