US efforts to resolve Kashmir issue not gone anywhere: CIA

Efforts to reach out between India and Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir by the Unite States has not gone "anywhere", CIA Director Leon Panetta has said.

"There have been efforts to try to reach out between Pakistan and India, but as far as I know, they haven't gotten anywhere," Panetta said at a Congressional hearing on 'Worldwide Threats' by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

A resolution of this long pending dispute between the two neighbours would help a great deal in terms of security of Pakistan, he said.

Top US intelligence officials including the FBI Director Robert Muller and James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, testified before the hearing chaired by Congressman Mime Rogers.

Panetta was responding to a question from Congressman Peter King on whether there has been any change in the dynamics on the ground on the issue of Kashmir between India and Pakistan. 

"I think yesterday or today, (India and Pakistan) have agreed to resume strategic dialogue. If that happens, that would be a movement in the right direction," Clapper said in response to the same question.

"Is there a possibility of reciprocation if the situation in Kashmir does improve somewhat, that we get more cooperation in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan)?" said King.

The CIA Director said: "I have to say this, that the Pakistanis, with regards to the operations that we're involved with, have provided cooperation and have worked with us certainly in the efforts to try to go after Al Qaida, and I appreciate that effort.