New Delhi, August 20 – The US, through its embassies in New Delhi and Islamabad, is trying to push both the Indian and Pakistani governments to resume the bilateral talks, which the Narendra Modi government called off showing its dissent against Pakistan meeting with Indian separatist leaders ahead of the Foreign Secretary level talks.
“We are engaging with the governments of both India and Pakistan directly through our embassies to talk about this issue, and again, would strongly support efforts by both countries to improve their bilateral relations,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters at her daily news conference.
“So it’s really up to them to take steps to improve that relationship,” Harf said. India on Monday cancelled the talks scheduled to be held in Islamabad on August 25, raising strong objections to consultations held with separatist Hurriyat leaders by Pakistan High Commissioner. Pakistan was bluntly asked to choose between an Indo-Pak dialogue or hobnobbing with the separatists.
Pakistan, in a statement, had described India’s decision to call off the talks as a “setback” to its efforts to promote good neighbourly relations. The meeting between the two Foreign Secretaries was scheduled at the directive of the two Prime Ministers.
In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a move dubbed as an effort to renew diplomatic ties, invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony. However, last week during a visit to Kashmir, Modi took on Pakistan by saying that it was terror groups to fight a “proxy war against India”.
The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan dubbed the claim as ‘baseless rhetoric’, saying rather than blame game, ‘the two countries should focus on resolving all issues through dialogue’. However, India hit back by saying terrorism continues to be a “core concern” and a “real and present danger”.
-INDIA TODAY
