Washington: Welcoming Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's proposal for ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), the United States exhorted India and Pakistan to augment mutual engagement and said it supports any efforts to reduce Indo-Pak tensions.

Commenting on Musharraf's proposal, US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said, "I have certainly seen some of the reports of President Musharraf's call for a ceasefire along the Line of Control. We support any efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and India. That is something that we have said for a long time."

Lauding the steps aimed at reducing tension between the two countries, like Parliamentarians' Conference in Islamabad, which was attended by Indian Parliamentarians, Reeker said, "We are pleased to see further steps in the reduction of tension and would certainly continue to urge both countries, India and Pakistan, to increase their engagement with each other."

"We very much support the building of productive relationships among the countries of South Asia, which helps promote development and peace and stability there." he said.

PTI