Tuesday, November 15 2005 16:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: US today (Nov 15, 2005) lauded India's response to send relief to victims of Pakistan earthquake as 'wonderful' and said both New Delhi and Islamabad showed 'great statesmanship' in furthering the peace process.

"It is wonderful that India was able to step forward with assistance as it did as it quickly as it did", US Secretary of State Christina Rocca said in an interview to Voice Of America (VOA), which launched its programme through Pakistan's sources.

On the peace process she said "India and Pakistan have showed great statesmanship in the efforts they have made for peace up to now. I think we certainly are encouraging any progress in the direction of the peace India and Pakistan wanted. We are very much encouraging that".

Rocca was here today with a high-level delegation of US officials to hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf in mobilising more resources for rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-hit areas in Pakistan.

Besides pledging 25 million dollars for relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake victims in Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has offered to take up reconstruction projects in the quake-hit areas depending on Islamabad's advice.

Accepting Pakistan's invitation to India to take part in a International Ministerial conference being organised by President Pervez Musharraf here on Nov 19, Singh in a letter to his Pakistan counterpart Shaukat Aziz on Saturday expressed India's willingness to take up reconstruction projects in Pakistan, officials here said.