(the codename for the US-led coalition's battle against terrorism in Afghanistan) or undermine the coalition or cause instability in the subcontinent," he said.
The official said both Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Musharraf are statesmen who want to avert war and who understand that their countries need to be stable and at peace to develop economically.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Bush and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, the official said, have been working very hard with India and Pakistan to reduce tensions in Kashmir.
Powell has been engaged almost daily in phone conversations with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Musharraf. Rice has called her counterparts National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Pakistani Principal Secretary Aziz several times.
When a Pakistani correspondent launched a tirade against a country that it is a "model" for terrorism, the senior US official said: "I am not sure I understand your question but I would like to say that we have an excellent relationship with India."
"India is a democracy that is stable. We believe we should have a good relationship with both India and Pakistan. We have several joint working groups with India and one of them is on counter-terrorism that was announced by the President and Prime Minister Vajpayee during the latter's visit to the US."
The official said the US has no plans to set up permanent bases in Pakistan. He said under the agreement with the Pakistani government, the US is using bases now to support Operation Enduring Freedom. "Once that is over, we will leave. We think Pakistan is capable of defending itself."
Bush's talks with Musharraf would cover a full range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including economic assistance, military relations, Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, narcotics, assistance in education and health issues, he said.
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