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WASHINGTON (US): Assuring that the United States "will lend its good offices to the work doing by Pakistan and India," Secretary of State Colin Powell Friday said both the countries "are now moving in the other direction" (of conflict-resolution) and not confrontation.

"And the Pakistani and Indian leaderships both have now decided: let's talk to each other- let's move forward."

He observed this while delivering his remarks on the occasion of George Kennan's Centenary Birthday, at Princeton University, New Jersey.

Negotiations Shortly

"The political negotiations will begin well -- will begin soon, and we hope they go well. Political dialogue and genuine conciliation mark the way forward in this new era."

"The success we've had with both countries is to let them know that we treat them as two separate countries; we don't see things solely as India-Pakistan. India, Pakistan, India-U.S., U.S.-Pakistan. We'll lend our good offices to the work you're doing."

Powell said that "Eighteen months ago, one of the great concerns I had as Secretary of State was that a war might break out between these two countries, a war that could possibly go nuclear, since both have nuclear capability."

"But over the last 18 months, we have seen all sides sobered by that possibility of war, and instead they are moving in the other direction. You don't see a possibility of a major regional war in Europe or in Asia."

He said the possibility of confrontation has been "defused for the moment."

Pakistan's Technological Assets

Secretary Powell said President Musharraf "has done the right thing now to get firmer control over Pakistan's technological assets."

"The international web of proliferation that Dr AQ Khan used to traffic with Libya, with Iran, with North Korea is being shut down even as I speak."

Peace in South Asia

"And the Pakistani and Indian leaderships both have now decided let's talk to each other- let's move forward. We hope, they have now turned the corner and are moving down a road toward lasting peace on the subcontinent."

He said: "the United States, acting in partnership with others, has played a quiet but important role in this reconciliation between India and Pakistan."

"The political negotiations will begin well -- will begin soon, and we hope they go well. Political dialogue and genuine conciliation mark the way forward in this new era."

On the other hand, he said, further weapons proliferation, recrimination and threats is the sure way to calamity.

Pakistan not accountable to anyone for N-proliferation: Fazal

Meanwhile, the General Secretary for Pakistan's relgio-political radical alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has said that Pakistan is not signatory of CTBT and NPT so it is not liable to answer on nuclear proliferation. He was addressing to a cleric convention in Dera Ismail Khan.

The whole Europe is involved in nuclear proliferation, he said suggesting constitution of a commission to investigate nuclear proliferation around the world. He also asked government for closing operation in tribal areas.