New Delhi: The United States on July 5 justified its State Department sponsoring a seminar on Kashmir earlier this week in Washington, but made it clear that this did not signal any "intent" or "attempt" to mediate.

"Sponsoring a discussion on the Kashmir issue does not signal any intent or attempt to mediate between the parties," a US embassy spokesman said.

He was asked about a news report, which said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had expressed its disapproval to the US Deputy Chief of Mission Al Thibault over the holding of such a seminar, as also extending invitation to Mehbooba Mufti, chief of the People's Democratic Party and daughter of J and K Chief Minister, to attend the State Department-sponsored seminar.

It was reportedly conveyed that it was a sensitive issue between India and Pakistan and Washington should not intervene.

The US embassy spokesman said, "Routine internal conferences take place all the time," on being asked whether MEA made out a demarche to Thibault and did not wish to go beyond his response.

Mehbooba, chief of the People's Democratic Party, did not attend the conference entitled "Kashmir re- visited" held on July 1 and organised by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the State Department.

"As many foreign affairs' issues are exceedingly complex, it is both prudent and appropriate to supplement our information by seeking additional information and insight from experts in academia, business, non-governmental organisations, journalism and elsewhere," the US embassy spokesman said.

The US embassy spokesman said, "One way we do this is through conferences and seminar organised by the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. The Bureau organises more than 100 conferences and seminars for the department."

Confirming that the conference 'Kashmir re-visited' was held in Washington earlier this month, he said, "A variety of panellists spoke about the current situation and prospects for resolution (of the Kashmir issue). The Bureau hosted a similar conference in April 2001."

He emphatically stated, "Neither the topics nor the participants are selected with an eye toward making a political settlement."

PTI