Cross-border infiltration from Pak continues: US official

WASHINGTON: The continuing cross-border infiltration from Pakistan is increasing the potential for hostilities breaking out between India and Pakistan in the wake of a ''triggering event'', a top US official told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
"With the Kashmir situation still unresolved and with continued cross-border infiltration from Pakistan, the potential for miscalculation between the two countries remains high, especially in the wake of some violent ''triggering event'' such as another spectacular terrorist attack or political assassination," Vice-Admiral Lowell E Jacoby, director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency told the committee.
This is inspite of the steps taken by both countries to defuse tensions, after the 2002 military stand-off along the Line of Control, he said.
"Both sides retain large forces close to the LoC and continue to develop their weapons of mass destruction and missile programmes," Jacoby said in his presentation on Tuesday.
He said that India and Pakistan will increase their inventories of nuclear weapons and seek to improve associated delivery systems.
Jacoby said that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf claims little influence over the militants in Kashmir and other religious extremists, and Pakistan does not completely control areas in the northwest where concentrations of al-Qaeda and Taliban remain.
"While Pakistan is making progress in its return to functioning democracy, President Musharraf faces significant political and economic challenges and continued opposition," Jacoby said.
Popular hostility to the US is growing and Islamist opponents of the current government could try to instigate a political crisis through violent means, he said, adding, "coup or assassination could result in an extremist Pakistan."
Citing Pakistan and Iran, Jacoby also expressed concern about the increased nuclear proliferation.
China, he said, has provided missile assistance to Pakistan and Iran and "may be connected to nuclear efforts in both states."
While Russia, China and North Korea are the suppliers of primary concern, "I expect an increase in Pakistani and Iranian proliferation," Jacoby said.
"I worry about the prospect of secondary proliferation-today''s technology importers becoming tomorrow''s exporters," he said.