The US Secretary of Mr State Colin Powell has declared two groups based in Pakistan terrorist organisations.
He is also launching a diplomatic blitz to try to head off a conflict between India and Pakistan.
Mr Powell made two telephone calls yesterday to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and two to Indian foreign minister Mr Jaswant Singh urging restraint. These followed earlier calls on Monday and Tuesday to Gen Musharraf.
"It is critically important there be a lessening of tensions between India and Pakistan," said Mr Phillip Reeker, a US State Department spokesman.
He said Mr Powell had told both leaders they needed to resolve their differences through dialogue.
India has accused the two groups designated by Mr Powell as terrorist organisations of carrying out a suicide attack on December 13th on the Indian parliament.
While Mr Powell's move against them appears to give tacit support to India, the State Department went out of its way to praise on Gen Musharraf, a valued ally in the US campaign against the al Quaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan.
"Musharraf has proved he is a capable and reliable coalition partner in the face of domestic opposition," Mr Reeker said.
The two groups also are believed to have trained fighters in camps in Afghanistan and are suspected of receiving support from Pakistan's intelligence agency.
While the US government does not have proof that the two groups carried out the bloody assault on December 13th in which 14 people died, it also has no reason to dispute India's contention, according to a US official.
PA