We want to see stability in South Asia
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday that although the US wants to see regional stability in South Asia, its relations with Pakistan and India are independent. Price was responding to questions from Pakistani journalists about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent remarks urging peace talks with India.
America said – we are friends of both India and Pakistan
Price said that we have long appealed for regional stability in South Asia. We want to expand it further. When it comes to our partnership, we have partnership with both Pakistan and India, but these relationships are our own. Price said the US does not view its relationship with the two countries as a ‘zero-sum’ (a kind of balance that assumes that the benefits to one person equal the losses to the other).
Shahbaz Sharif gave a statement on the conversation
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had requested for talks with India. He had said that the two countries should resolve mutual issues through dialogue. However, after pressure from the Pakistan Army, he changed his statement and said that Pakistan will not hold talks without the withdrawal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, India has been saying from the beginning that terrorism and talks cannot go together. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of Pakistan to create an environment for talks.
America is helping Pakistan fiercely
America has become the biggest well wisher of Pakistan at this time. Relations between Pakistan and the US have improved after Imran Khan’s departure and Shehbaz Sharif’s return to power. America has given a bailout of billions of dollars to Pakistan as flood relief. Apart from this, the Biden administration has approved the upgrade of Pakistani F-16 fighter jets despite India’s objection.
(with inputs from the agency)
