WASHINGTON: The United States has said that it wants both Pakistan and India to continue to work together with constructive dialogue to resolve their issues; however, it admitted that there are longstanding issues between the two countries.
In his daily press briefing in Washington, the US State Department Spokesman John Kirby said that we understand that there are longstanding issues but we want to see the tensions decrease.
“What really needs to happen, is sitting down, dialogue, cooperation, talking through these things, and trying to work through some meaningful solutions,” the spokesman said.
The national security advisors (NSAs) of Pakistan and Indian were scheduled to meet in New Delhi on August 24; however, the Indian government set pre-conditions for talks asking Pakistan not to go with its planned meeting with the Kashmiri leaders.
But Pakistan rejected the Indian objection and said that talks with Kashmiri leaders are a routine matter, and it wants India to include all outstanding issues including Kashmir in NSAs level talks.
The US expressed its disappointment at the cancellation of the Pakistan-India security talks and urged the two neighbors to resume formal dialogue soon.
“We are disappointed the talks will not happen this weekend and encourage India and Pakistan to resume formal dialogue soon,” John Kirby said in a statement after the NSAs level talks between Pakistan and Indian were called off.
In reply to a question regarding a report which says that Pakistan will be the third-largest nuclear stockpiles in a decade, John Kirby said that the US continue to urge all nuclear-capable states including Pakistan to exercise restraint regarding furthering their nuclear capabilities.
On Thursday, the Washington Post published a report according to which, Pakistan could become the third largest nuclear stock pile within the next 5 to 10 years behind only the United States and Russia.
The Washington Post quoted the reports of two American think tanks – the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Stimson Center.
