Expressing concern over the continued violence in Jammu and Kashmir, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has spoken to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in this regard, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

"US has continued to be concerned with the violence in Kashmir and Powell spoke about it on Thursday to Musharraf," Boucher said when asked what kind of message Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will be taking with him to India and Pakistan during his visit to the sub-continent next month.

He said: "Powell has been talking with the Pakistanis as well as keeping in touch with the Indian government about steps that we can take to try to help them decrease tension there."