United States has asked Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for planning attacks in India, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said terrorism is being incubated in India's neighbourhood.<br/><br/>US State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said this is one of the steps that the United States is encouraging Pakistan to take for the improvement of its relations with India. He said the US believes that Pakistan and India stand to benefit from practical cooperation and encourage direct dialogue aimed at increasing cooperation and reducing tensions. <br/><br/>Toner said it includes steps by Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to plan attacks in India and that Pakistan takes steps to address or to go after all the terrorist groups that are currently using its territory.<br/><br/>Responding to a question, the spokesman said Pakistan was one of the issues discussed between Mr Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama and both the leaders talked about a wide range of regional issues too.<br/><br/>Toner also said Washington's bilateral relations with India and Pakistan are separate and stand on their own merits.<br/>He added that its is important for the countries of the region that they all have constructive security relationships with each other.<br/> <br/>In his address to the joint sitting of US Congress, Mr Modi had said terrorism has to be fought with 'one voice' as he commended the American Parliament for sending out a clear message by refusing to 'reward' those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains, an apparent reference to the blocking of sale of 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.