Washington: The United States on October 4, sought to play down the latest missile test by Pakistan saying that it does not seem to heighten tension in the region and urged both India and Pakistan to take steps to restrain their nuclear weapon and missile programmes.

Soon after Pakistan tested the short-range Hatf-III missile on October 3, the State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that while the test did not for the moment appear to have significantly increased tension between the two countries, the two sides should refrain from provocative action, particularly the full deployment of these missiles.

"Initial public reactions are such that it doesn't seem to have heightened tension in the region, but we have continued to urge India and Pakistan to take steps to restrain their nuclear weapons and their missile programme, including non operational deployment of nuclear-armed ballistic missiles," he told reporters.

"We have also encouraged them to begin a dialogue on confidence-building measures that could reduce the likelihood that such weapons would ever be used," said Boucher, adding "obviously, we think that dialogue could be part of a broader engagement between the two countries to reduce tensions."

When a correspondent pointed that India has refused a dialogue (unless Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism), Boucher said: "We have worked with both parties to try to encourage a dialogue on measures to reduce tensions. We continue to do that."

PTI