ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistani envoy to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani has said that the US should persuade India to enter into a meaningful dialogue on all outstanding disputes with Pakistan.
In an interview with Washington Times, the ambassador expressed the hope that the Obama administration will use its influence on India to hold a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with Pakistan.
The ambassador said that India has failed to respond to Pakistan’s proposals to create a joint counterterrorism initiative. He said that long-term stability in South Asia will depend on easing friction between India and Pakistan.
Jilani said that terrorism is a common concern to Pakistan as well as India and it is the time for the two nations to engage in a meaningful fashion rather than getting involved in propaganda against each other.
In addition, the envoy said that Pakistan is satisfied with the US plans for military withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of next year but the drawdown should not be abrupt.
The envoy said that too rapid pullout would add pressure on Pakistan’s Army already engaged in tribal areas to root out terrorism.
