ID :
133626
Mon, 07/19/2010 - 21:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/133626
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US wants continuation of Indo-Pak talks: Clinton tells Pak
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, July 19 (PTI) Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton Monday told the Pakistani leadership that the US wants
a continuation of Indo-Pak dialogue so that the two sides
could amicably resolve their outstanding problems, diplomatic
sources said here on Monday.
Clinton, who is currently here for the US-Pakistan
Strategic Dialogue, made the remarks after a delegation-led by
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed her on the
meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan
here on July 15.
"The Secretary of State made it clear that the US is
interested that the process between Pakistan and India should
be sustained," a diplomatic source familiar with the
discussions told PTI.
The Pakistani delegation told Clinton about the
reasons why the Foreign Ministers had been unable to make any
headway in their talks.
The Pakistani side contended that the Indian team led
by Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had focussed
only on the issue of terrorism and shown no interest in
addressing Pakistan's concerns, including the Kashmir issue,
Siachen and the need for a regional strategic restraint
regime, the sources said.
Clinton responded to these issues by saying that the
US would like India and Pakistan to amicably resolve their
outstanding problems and address issues between the two
countries, the diplomatic sources said.
Pakistan meanwhile assured the US it will work to have
"good neighbourly relations with India" and said the two
neighbouring countries should "address all issues and disputes
between them peacefully".
This assurance was conveyed by Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani to Clinton during their meeting here yesterday.
Clinton on her part hoped that efforts by Pakistan to
normalise relations with India would bear fruit in the near
future.
A statement issued by the prime minister's office said
that Clinton was told by Gilani that Pakistan wants "good
neighbourly relations with India" and that it would like both
sides to "address all issues and disputes between them
peacefully".
The statement also said that at the Clinton-Gilani
meeting the US acknowledged the prime minister's "personal
role in efforts to normalise relations with India".
Qureshi and Krishna have exchanged angry barbs since
their talks ended in deadlock.
Qureshi has claimed that Krishna came to Islamabad
with a "limited mandate" and was not willing to focus on
Pakistan's concerns.
Sources have said the talks between the Foreign
Ministers were unable to make headway due to Pakistan's
insistence on a time-bound roadmap to address outstanding
issues like Kashmir, Siachen and security-related matters.
India has indicated that it favours slow and
incremental steps to improve relations that suffered a major
setback in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. It has
also insisted that Pakistan must take steps to bring the
masterminds, financiers and handlers of the attacks to
justice. PTI
Islamabad, July 19 (PTI) Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton Monday told the Pakistani leadership that the US wants
a continuation of Indo-Pak dialogue so that the two sides
could amicably resolve their outstanding problems, diplomatic
sources said here on Monday.
Clinton, who is currently here for the US-Pakistan
Strategic Dialogue, made the remarks after a delegation-led by
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed her on the
meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan
here on July 15.
"The Secretary of State made it clear that the US is
interested that the process between Pakistan and India should
be sustained," a diplomatic source familiar with the
discussions told PTI.
The Pakistani delegation told Clinton about the
reasons why the Foreign Ministers had been unable to make any
headway in their talks.
The Pakistani side contended that the Indian team led
by Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had focussed
only on the issue of terrorism and shown no interest in
addressing Pakistan's concerns, including the Kashmir issue,
Siachen and the need for a regional strategic restraint
regime, the sources said.
Clinton responded to these issues by saying that the
US would like India and Pakistan to amicably resolve their
outstanding problems and address issues between the two
countries, the diplomatic sources said.
Pakistan meanwhile assured the US it will work to have
"good neighbourly relations with India" and said the two
neighbouring countries should "address all issues and disputes
between them peacefully".
This assurance was conveyed by Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani to Clinton during their meeting here yesterday.
Clinton on her part hoped that efforts by Pakistan to
normalise relations with India would bear fruit in the near
future.
A statement issued by the prime minister's office said
that Clinton was told by Gilani that Pakistan wants "good
neighbourly relations with India" and that it would like both
sides to "address all issues and disputes between them
peacefully".
The statement also said that at the Clinton-Gilani
meeting the US acknowledged the prime minister's "personal
role in efforts to normalise relations with India".
Qureshi and Krishna have exchanged angry barbs since
their talks ended in deadlock.
Qureshi has claimed that Krishna came to Islamabad
with a "limited mandate" and was not willing to focus on
Pakistan's concerns.
Sources have said the talks between the Foreign
Ministers were unable to make headway due to Pakistan's
insistence on a time-bound roadmap to address outstanding
issues like Kashmir, Siachen and security-related matters.
India has indicated that it favours slow and
incremental steps to improve relations that suffered a major
setback in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. It has
also insisted that Pakistan must take steps to bring the
masterminds, financiers and handlers of the attacks to
justice. PTI
