US wants India, Pakistan to solve Kashmir issue bilaterally

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Oct 23 (PTI) Voicing "great concern" about
the situation in Kashmir, the US Saturday said it wants India
and Pakistan to resolve the issue bilaterally while ruling out
any role for itself in settling the problem.
"We obviously have great concern about the situation
in Kashmir. We talk both to our Pakistani friends and our
Indian friends on this issue on a regular basis. We would like
to see the situation in Kashmir resolved," US State Department
spokesman P J Crowley said.
"There's obviously too much tension and violence in
Kashmir, which is why we continue to encourage both countries,
you know, to resolve it through dialogue," he told reporters
within hours after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi asked US President Barack Obama to take up the issue
with India during his next month visit there.
"President Obama has always understood the importance
of a Kashmir solution. His coming visit to the region, is the
time to begin to redeem the pledge that he made earlier,"
Qureshi had said in his opening remarks at the plenary session
of the third round of the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue.
Qureshi is leading the high-profile Pakistani
delegation which includes Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani.
"Pakistan and the United States have a shared
interest, in a peaceful and stable South Asia. Unfortunately,
hat prospect is threatened again, by the recent events in
Kashmir," Qureshi said with US Secretary of State, Hillary
Clinton sitting by his side.
A few hours later, the Obama Administration was quick
to dismiss any role for itself on the Kashmir issue -- as
being demanded by Pakistan.
"Kashmir is an issue that we believe needs to be
resolved between Pakistan and India. It is an issue that does
come up in time to time in our bilateral discussions with
Pakistan. But there is no working group in Kashmir," Crowley
said.
When asked about the manner in which the issue was
raised during the Strategic Dialogue including the plenary
session, Crowley said this was nothing new for Pakistan, which
has been doing so for quite some time.
"Because the Strategic Dialogue is focused on
expanding our bilateral relationship, when we get together,
the United States or Pakistan can bring forward any issue that
it wishes. The Pakistanis have raised the issue of Kashmir
with us before. This is not new," he said.
"Our understanding of the Pakistani view of this
issue is well known. But at the same time, the United States'
policy is clear. We believe that this is ultimately an issue
that has to be resolved between India and Pakistan," Crowley
said. PTI LKJ