US to support better ties between Pakistan and India

WASHINGTON: The US on Tuesday voiced support for a pledge by leaders of India and Pakistan to work on improving bilateral ties, but said that overcoming the ‘trust deficit’ between the two countries would be a timeconsuming job.

US State Department spokesperson PJ Crowley said: "Notwithstanding a trust deficit, there is a pledge between leaders of two South Asian rivals to work very earnestly to improve relations.” "We, the US, certainly support that," he said in response to a question about Pak-India ties at a press conference. "As we've said many times, it will take time to overcome that (trust deficit), but certainly mutual commitment to highlevel dialogue is a step in the right direction," Crowley said.

He said under secretary of state for Political Affairs Bill Burns met Indian officials in New Delhi recently. The officials included Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia. "His discussions centered on the upcoming June 1 US-India strategic dialogue," he said.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 26th, 2010.