LoC violations: US concerned over border clashes, urges dialogue
"We are extremely concerned by reports of violence over the last two weeks along the LoC and the working boundary," US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Dan Feldman told a Washington think tank.
"I've personally raised these concerns with each side, and urged them to engage in dialogue to reduce tensions and end the violence," he said in a speech to the Atlantic Council.
Feldman noted "there is no relationship more critical to Pakistan's future than its relationship with its neighbor."
"And I am convinced that India's rise in prosperity and global leadership cannot be fully realised until it has a better relationship with Pakistan," he added.
Pakistan on Thursday demanded an immediate end to “unprovoked” firing and shelling by Indian forces.
At least 12 people have been killed and 64 others injured in Indian firing along the LoC and Working Boundary over the past two weeks. Unprovoked Indian firing has triggered an exodus of people from the villages near the border.
Clashes occur regularly along the LoC as well as the Working Boundary. However, the latest shelling which began over a week ago, has been unusual in its intensity and frequency.
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@rigel: Yes. The general tied to be sarcastic that US asked for some certifications before releasing CSF and Dan Feldman made it very clear that if US gave money, it would certainly have to provide reassurances to its Congress.
Anyway, this man is Af-Pak envoy attending a IS Pak session and in specific response to a question by Jillani. This is not State Department making a general comment. Plus he too said Pakistan should talk to India. Never indicated that US should intervene. India stood its ground in 1971 when it was much poorer. More recent when Obama wanted to designate Hsllbrooke as Kashmir envoy, India refused and he ended up being designated Af-Pak envoy.
saw the Q&A session with Dan Feldman -- it was all about Pakistan begging for money, removal or audit conditions for money and more freedom to use some more begging money.... It;s pathetic.....Who is this Dan? - he's just the Af-Pak envoy! Nothing less than Obama calling Modi personally will have any effect for India.
@Naeem Khan:
As I recall the USA is your largest export customer, your largest donor for disaster relief, provides you with most of your high tech military aircraft, aggressively supports your efforts to obtain loans from IMF and other international lenders, and has provided you Billions in your effort to fight militants/terrorist. Not sure how all that equates to a country which is trying to destabilize Pakistan?
This article misses the rebuke from Dan Feldman towards Pakistan especially in response to the comments by the last 3 questioners.
I saw the discussion. There was no rebuke. And the discussion (one hour 20 minutes long) had nothing to do with India anyway besides what is in the article.
If anyone cares to note, he is the envoy to Af-Pak. Nothing to do with India. And in any case when it comes to protecting Indian interests, we care 2 hoots about anyone. The world had learned it the hard way in 1971.
That is a wonderful news which is most welcome.
But our Government and the army have to remember the US will not go beyond these words. The results of this comment will not be visible unless we take serious action. We should also not keep waiting for India to take action unilaterally. That is not going to happen.
What we need to do is best decided by the army.
And, by the way, where is the "working boundary"?
Oh Yeah, Should Pakistanis remind Mr. Dan Feldman that these violations intensified when Modi had a private meeting with Obama. It is no secret that the US wants to destabilize Pakistan to the extent that they will go to UN Security Consul to present the case to cleanse Pakistan of their nuclear assets because they don't want these weapons to fall in the hands of some concocted terrorists organizations. ANY ONE REMEMBERS VEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ. Figure it out and keep on having leadership who are more interested about their business ventures and properties abroad then taking care of the security of the country. Keep it up and you will wind up another satellite of India like Bangla Desh, Nepal, Bhutan and even Afghanistan.
I watched the same Q&A session at the Atlantic Council where Ambassador Jillani raised this and which is available on youtube. This article misses the rebuke from Dan Feldman towards Pakistan especially in response to the comments by the last 3 questioners.