WASHINGTON: The US Department of State has said Pakistan and India willhave to work together to de-escalate tensions along the restive Line ofControl (LoC).

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told a news briefing thattensions between the two neighbouring countries were not in the interest ofthe region.

She said measures are required to be taken to improve relations betweenboth the countries and that Washington was assessing the situation.

Nauert stressed the need that Pakistan and India should work together tode-escalate the situation along the LoC. No other country better understoodterrorism than Pakistan, she said and hoped the country will take moremeasures in this regard.

To a question, she said James Mattis, the US defence secretary, hasconveyed to his counterpart what Washington wanted Islamabad to do to reinin the scourge of terrorism.

Of late, the heavily militarized LoC, which divided the disputed Himalayanregion of Jammu and Kashmir between Pakistan and India, saw a spike inceasefire violations, which resulted in several casualties.

Pakistan summoned repeatedly Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh tolodge protest over frequent breach of the 2003 pact.