Washington: US played a "quiet but significant" role in bringing about the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit, media report claimed today (Jan 7, 2004).

The 'Wall Street Journal' in a dispatch from Islamabad said diplomats trace the roots of the Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting to back channel discussions involving Indian National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, the head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other senior Indian and Pakistani officials.

"It also involved the Bush administration," senior diplomats (in Islamabad) said.

"The US has repeatedly urged New Delhi and Islamabad to resume direct dialogue. The Americans' role was quiet but significant in the negotiations," a senior Pakistani official said.