US rejects Pak efforts for mediation on Kashmir, water

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 24 (PTI) On the eve of its key strategic
dialogue with Pakistan, the Obama administration rejected
efforts by that country to have the US mediate in resolving
bilateral problems with India like Kashmir and water.
The US told Pakistan it would be "sensible" to look to
the existing bilateral mechanism to resolve any of the issues
with India.
"We're well aware that there is a 50-year-old agreement
between Pakistan and India concerning water," US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton told a Pakistani TV channel when asked
if there could be a US role in the matter.
"Well, usually, where there is an agreement, as there is
between India and Pakistan on water, with mediation
techniques, arbitration built in, it would seem sensible to
look to what already exists to try to resolve any of the
bilateral problems between India and Pakistan," she said
pouring cold water on Pakistan's attempts to get US involved
in resolving its bilateral issues with India.
Clinton however offered US help to Pakistan on better
using its existing resources.
At the strategic dialogue, Pakistan is likely to
highlight its water "dispute" with India as one of the items
that needed US intervention. It is also seeking a direct US
role in reviving the peace process with India and addressing
the Kashmir issue.
Echoing Clinton's sentiments, another top US official
also shot down Pakistan's plea to the Obama administration to
help it resume peace talks with India and mediate on key
disputes with New Delhi on issues including Kashmir.
"It is for India and Pakistan to resolve all their
disputes bilaterally and the Obama Administration does not
sees a role for itself in it unless both the countries want
it," Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan
Richard Holbrooke told journalists at a joint press conference
with the Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir here.
Responding to questions from the Pakistani media on
this issue, Holbrooke, however, said that the US encourages
both India and Pakistan to talk to each other on all the
issues.
He said talking on Kashmir is not in his mandate.
Clinton said in the course of the strategic dialogue,
"what we want to do is focus on the problem."
" If the problem is water or agriculture or energy,
without looking externally, as we do in our other strategic
dialogues, when we have a strategic dialogue with Russia, it’s
between the United States and Russia," she said. PTI