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India has taken constructive steps: Rumsfeld

The United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday appreciated the 'constructive steps' taken to reduce Indo-Pak tension and said the Indian leadership had demonstrated 'their concern' in seeing that the issues were resolved in an 'appropriate way'.

"We feel that there are steps being taken which are constructive," Rumsfeld told reporters after a 90-minute dialogue with Defence Minister George Fernandes in New Delhi.

Rumsfeld, who also met National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, said, "The leadership in India has demonstrated their concern and interest in seeing that things are resolved in an appropriate way."

He said US President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell were deeply interested with the relationship with India and 'anxious to see that the tensions that exist between India and Pakistan improve'.

Terming his talks with the Indian leadership as 'cordial and constructive', Rumsfeld said, "The US very much values its relationship with India -- politically, economically as well as improving and strengthening military-to-military relations."

Fernandes, in his brief statement, said the two leaders discussed various issues and 'understandings we reached on how to deal with some of the immediate problems we are facing; and it will help in creating better atmosphere in the sub-continent'.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the issues.

The two leaders declined to entertain questions from a large posse of reporters waiting outside the defence ministry headquarters in New Delhi.

Rumsfeld, who will leave for Islamabad later on Wednesday, will call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and also have meetings with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani.

PTI with inputs from Josy Joseph in New Delhi

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