The bilateral ties between India and US are also in for a "difficult patch", though the doors are open for a high-level dialogue, the US ambassador to India, Richard F Celeste, said in a wide-ranging interview to PTI.

On Kashmir, Washington's policy was very clear that it should be resolved through "direct and constructive" talks between India and Pakistan, he said.

"We believe sooner the talks get underway, it will be better for both the countries and for the stability in the sub-continent", he said in response to questions which covered nuclear tests by India and Pakistan and subsequent US sanctions as well as bilateral ties.

Asked why the US and key countries were focussing on Kashmir and linking it with the Pokhran tests, Celeste said this was due to the BJPtalking about India exercising the nuclear option in its manifesto which also referred to Kashmir.

The ambassador, who was called to Washington after the May 11 Pokhran tests while he was in Hawaii, talked about the impressions created by the Indian nuclear tests.

"After the nuclear tests by India, Union Home Minister LK Advani seemed to link the country's nuclear weapons capability with the issue of Kashmir which was followed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee travelling to the test site in the company of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah," Celeste said while noting the impact of these images broadcast throughout the world.

These factors powerfully link Kashmir and nuclear tests, he said observing it should come as no surprise to India that leaders in US and elsewhere must be very concerned about Kashmir.