With South Asia witnessing a dangerous escalation in the form of frequent exchange of fire in Kashmir, the United States has said it wants Pakistan and India to hold dialogue and build cooperation.
A State Department official says that the United States “feels strongly that the two countries stand to benefit from practical cooperation.”
“We have been consistent that we always encourage both Pakistan and India to engage in direct dialogue (aimed) at reducing tensions and to build cooperation,” Courtenay Dunn, Deputy Director, Office of Pakistan Affairs, said.
She was speaking on Capitol Hill during a discussion US-Pakistan relations. The remarks – at a Pakistan American Congress meeting – came in response to a question about the Trump Administration’s policy toward South Asia, where India this week claimed to have targeted Pakistani military positions along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.
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The frequent violations of a ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir have renewed fears of a conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The absence of a peace dialogue has worsened the situation. In Indian-controlled Kashmir, the situation has been tense with Indian security forces’ using brutal tactics to stifle protests against New Delhi’s rule.
The State Department official was also asked about the state of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan to which Dunn said Washington believes Pakistan is playing an important toward an Afghan-led reconciliation.
Dunn urged both Kabul and Islamabad to cooperate and “redouble their efforts in counterterrorism and other issues across the board.”
Dr Nisar Chaudhry, head of Pakistani American League, who anchored the discussion with American officials and experts, noted that all countries have a responsibility to work for peace.
He said it is a fact that all four countries – India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan – are in tough strategic spot.
“India has fought many wars in the region – but India being a large country, New Delhi should realize that leadership demands responsibility.”
The expert said New Delhi should immediately begin a process of reconciling its differences with neighboring countries in the interest peace in the region, where connectivity and trade hold immense promise for mutual benefit.
“More than half of the population of the world lives in the region with China and India being the largest but the critical mass of human beings can only benefit if all countries show responsibility.”
Ben Barber, a journalist and former international and development official, said the constant stream of negative news coming out of Pakistan and the region has a lot to do with Pakistan’s negative image in the United States. In terms of the fight against militancy, he suggested that Pakistan should be making more efforts to curb militant activity.
