No condemnation of Pak for brutal killing of Indian soldiers, US wants tensions to de-escalate

"If they can work it out themselves, that's obviously best. If both parties were interested in support from the UN, we'd obviously support that as well. But at the moment, we're urging them to talk to each other," Nuland said.

Earlier Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said: "We all hope that we can maintain peace and stability in the region. The Secretary (of Defence) has affirmed that on visits throughout that region, including to India."

The issue of "tensions, historical tensions" between India and Pakistan, is one that Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, knows very well, he said in response to a question.

His remarks came after Pakistani soldiers, in a "provocative" attack, crossed into Indian territory in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and ambushed an Indian patrol killing two soldiers, one of whom was decapitated.

"On the issue of terrorism, let me say that we stand with everyone in the world to include those in India and in Pakistan who take a very hard line against terrorists who want to kill civilians, whether it's Pakistani, Indian or American civilians," Little said.

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