Saturday, May 28 2005 15:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: US has praised the momentum of the peace process between India and Pakistan and ruled out any mediator role in resolving their differences.

"We have a good relationship with Pakistan and a good relationship with India but we are not mediators," Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca told The News daily, when asked about any US role in South Asian talks.

"The momentum seems to be in favour of the peace process and a number of steps are being taken at a great speed, a gratifying speed," Rocca, who held talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf here this week said in an interview to the daily today (May 28, 2005).

All the steps being initiated by the two countries has the support of US, she said.

Rocca said that ultimately, the solution would lie between India and Pakistan. She said if there is an area where "we can help, we are there to do so but right now the momentum seems to be going very firmly and both countries seem to be working towards the resolution of the disputes."

She also thanked Pakistan for cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by sharing the nuclear centrifuges wanted in connection with the probe into Iran's nuclear programme. "Sharing parts of the discarded centrifuges is an extremely helpful step the Government of Pakistan has taken."

Rocca said US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice has made clear that Washington believes Iran's attempt to acquire nuclear weapons, "Is destabilising to the US and allies in the region."

"We are supporting the diplomatic efforts including the EU channel, and to let the Iranians know that the ball is in their court," she added.

On the allegations of desecration of the Holy Quran, the US official said the issue is being investigated and anyone found guilty would be sent to jail.

"This is not something intolerable to Pakistan but also in the United States this is simply intolerable as Washington stands for freedom of worship," she said.

Defending the US policy, Rocca said the perpetrators of torture in Iraq or Guantanamo are individuals.

"This is against American values and the courts are prosecuting those found guilty," she said.

Asked if Guantanamo is being seen as anti-Statue of Liberty and why it should not be closed, Rocca said she would let the Pentagon answer this question. She, however, remarked the desecration of the Holy Quran is hitting the very core of US values.

"Any kind of mishandling of a holy book is against the norms and values of America," she stressed.

Regarding the US on-ground involvement in the war on terror within Pakistan, Rocca insisted that it was Pakistanis, who were nabbing the militants.

She termed the latest arrest of Abu Faraj al-Libbi as a major success in the war on terror.

On the condemnation of Washington's poor human rights performance by the Amnesty International, she said it was not the US policy to violate human rights.