Washington, July 26: US Secretary of State Collin Powell would work towards easing Indo-Pak tensions by "encouraging dialogue", and also ensure that Islamabad keeps its commitments to end cross border terrorism during his South Asia visit commencing on Saturday. "We are working to ease(Indo-Pak)tensions. Both sides in the dispute have said they want to engage in dialogue and lessen tension, and that is what Powell will to try to encourage," US State Department Deputy spokesman Philip Reeker told reporters here on Friday.

Reeker said the "goal of our meeting in both capitals (Islamabad and New Delhi) as it has been in the past is to work with both countries to make sure they both meet their commitment".

However Reeker could not specify what India's "commitment" is compared to Pakistan's promise to end cross-border terrorism permanently, close down the terrorist camps and action on India's list of wanted criminals. Bureau Report