Holbrooke working on reducing Indo-Pak tension

WASHINGTON: Two American Senators have said that special US envoy for Af-Pak Richard Holbrooke is working on reducing tension between India and Pakistan and they indicated that this also includes reduction of forces from the border of the two countries.

"If there can be some sort of step-back, a way that could open up the possibility of moving more Pakistani forces into contested areas (from its eastern border along with India). That would be very helpful," Senator Jack Reed said at a press conference after returning from Iraq, Af-Pak region.

"But that's going to require some very delicate negotiations between the Government of India, the Government of Pakistan. I know Ambassador Holbrooke is working in that one," Reed said, without giving any further details.

Last month an Indian channel reported that Holbrooke, during his first trip to New Delhi, had asked India to reduce troops on its border along Pakistan. This was immediately denied by both Obama Administration and the Indian Government.

Praising the efforts of Holbrooke, Reed said he has captured the interrelationships of many of these problems between Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and China.

"Ambassador Holbrooke is reaching out to all the regional parties. He had a brief interaction with the Iranian foreign minister in The Hague. He has been to New Delhi numerous times and will go again. He's been to Afghanistan. He has been in China," he said.