Armitage in Pak

8216;8216;We are trying to bring about a situation where there can be a dialogue and two parties can sit down face to face to speak about these matters,8217;8217; he said.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said they hoped Armitage8217;s mission would help push an 8216;8216;intransigent8217;8217; India towards talks on the Kashmir issue.

Earlier in New Delhi, Armitage said: 8216;8216;There has been too much violence as a general matter and we8217;ll do whatever we can to reduce the violence.8217;8217; He also said the US wanted to see a free and fair election in J-K, but was concerned about the possibility of violence.

US President George W. Bush praised Musharraf on Thursday as a stalwart ally and made it clear Washington would stand by him. Just hours earlier, the General had announced constitutional changes critics say will entrench the role of the military in government after Pakistan8217;s own elections on October 10. Reuters