US senator John McCain discusses Indo-Pak tension with Asif Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Influential US Senator John McCain telephoned former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and discussed bilateral and regional issues, including the tension between Pakistan and India.

"Issues relating to the current situation as a result of war of words and hype in Indian propaganda against Pakistan were also discussed during their conversation last evening," the former president's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said today.

Zardari told the American senator that Pakistan never supported terrorists and his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and all Pakistanis have always condemned terrorists.

He alleged that "India wants to hide its atrocities over innocent Kashmiris by this propaganda".

The former president said that "Pakistan wants a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue and in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir".

"Dialogue is the only way forward," Zardari told McCain, who was the Republican presidential nominee in the 2008 election.

18 Indian soldiers were killed when terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday. India has said it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack.

The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly.