US Division of State says Washington has all the time maintained the 2 neighbours ought to interact in dialogue.
Islamabad, Pakistan – A day after Pakistan’s chief proposed “conditional” talks with archenemy India, the US mentioned it helps direct talks between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday mentioned he was able to resume bilateral dialogue with India.
Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India in 2019 when New Delhi scrapped the particular standing of Indian-administered Kashmir. The standing gave semi-autonomy to the disputed Himalayan area, which can also be claimed by Pakistan.
Since their independence from British rule in 1947, the 2 international locations have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.
“We’re ready to speak with everybody, even with our neighbour, supplied that the neighbour is severe to speak about severe issues on the desk as a result of battle isn’t any extra an choice,” Sharif mentioned in Islamabad.
When requested to reply to Sharif’s assertion, US Division of State spokesperson Matthew Miller on Wednesday mentioned the US has all the time maintained the 2 international locations ought to interact in dialogue.
“As now we have lengthy mentioned, we assist direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on the problems of concern. That has lengthy been our place,” Miller mentioned.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting a decades-old armed revolt in Indian-administered Kashmir towards Indian rule. Pakistan denies the allegation, saying it gives solely diplomatic assist for the area’s wrestle for self-determination.
The fraught relations between the 2 neighbours worsened after August 5, 2019, when India’s Hindu nationalist authorities, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unilaterally revoked the partial autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir and introduced it underneath New Delhi’s direct management.
Sharif on Tuesday mentioned the 2 nations ought to look forward, including that the three wars prior to now and ongoing animosity has prompted solely extra poverty and impacted the wellbeing of their individuals.
“We’ve to undertake, or to have an financial competitors, as a result of God forbid if there’s a nuclear flashpoint. Who will dwell to inform what occurred? So that’s not an choice in any respect,” he mentioned, including that India should perceive the dangers.
It was the second time this yr that Sharif had made overtures in direction of India after an analogous assertion in January throughout his go to to the United Arab Emirates.
In an interview to an Emirati information outlet, Sharif had then requested the UAE to organise and mediate India-Pakistan talks.
Aizaz Chaudhry, Pakistan’s former overseas secretary, advised Al Jazeera the 2 nations should be on the identical web page relating to the holding of talks on contentious points.
“PM Sharif’s assertion confirmed Pakistan’s stance and [the US] state division additionally endorsed it, however the issue is that if India stays unwilling to carry a dialogue, what can Pakistan do? It takes two to tango, and if one aspect doesn’t reply, a dialogue can not begin,” he mentioned.
The previous diplomat mentioned he was sceptical of any breakthrough within the close to future.
“I don’t suppose any third-party mediation is feasible. … We lately noticed China enjoying a task between Saudi Arabia and Iran, however that was solely potential as a result of the 2 international locations have been prepared to speak, a state of affairs which we don’t have with India proper now,” he mentioned.