NEW DELHI:
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday she was ‘encouraged’ by recent efforts by India and Pakistan to get their stop-start peace process back on track.
India had suspended the four-year peace process following the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai which New Delhi alleged were carried out by Pakistan-based militants.
“We are encouraged by the dialogue occurring between India and Pakistan,” Clinton told a joint news conference after talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in the Indian capital.
“We think it is the most promising approach, to encourage both sides to build more confidence between them and work to implement the kinds of steps that will demonstrate the improved atmosphere that is so necessary for us to deal with the underlying problem of terrorism.”
Clinton’s statement coincided with a meeting between Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabharwal and Pakistan’s first woman foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, at the Foreign Office.
Khar voiced satisfaction at the resumption of the ‘full spectrum dialogue’ between the two countries and stressed that the dialogue process should be “uninterrupted and uninterruptable”.
Sabharwal, on his part, said that India’s external affairs minister is looking forward to Khar’s visit to India. The two foreign ministers are to meet in New Delhi next week.
At New Delhi news conference, Clinton also pledged strong US support for India’s battle against extremism and said she would press Pakistan to do more to crack down on militants believed to be operating from its territory.
She said that the United States has made it “forcefully clear” to Pakistan that it has a special obligation to bring perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice.
“Obviously, there is a limit to what both the United States and India can do, but we intend to continue to press (Pakistan) as hard as possible,” Clinton said.
At the same time, she appreciated Pakistan’s contribution to the global fight against terrorism which, she said, threatened both the US and Pakistan.
“Terrorists have actually killed more Pakistanis in bombings of mosques and markets, in attacks on police stations and government buildings, than Americans,” she said. “We recognise that Pakistan must act on its own behalf first and foremost to protect its own territory and sovereignty and to protect the lives of its people.”
She described Pakistan as a ‘key ally’ in the fight against terrorism. “We want a long-term relationship with Pakistan based on common interests, including a mutual recognition that we cannot tolerate a safe haven for terrorists anywhere,” she said.
At the talks, Clinton briefed the Indian leaders on US plans to draw down troops in Afghanistan as well as on Pakistan.
But Krishna urged the US to consider the ‘ground realities’ in Afghanistan and ensure its troop pullout does not provide space for the re-emergence of Taliban-sponsored ‘terrorism’.
“We have impressed on the US and other countries who have a major presence in Afghanistan that it is necessary for them to continue in Afghanistan”.
Clinton also urged India to amend a law that has put off US companies from taking part in the $150 billion nuclear energy market and further open up its economy to foreign investment. “We need to resolve those issues that still remain so that we can reap the rewards of the extraordinary work that both of our governments have done,” Clinton said.
Washington wants New Delhi to “tighten up” legislation to protect equipment makers from liability in case of nuclear accidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2011.
COMMENTS (21)
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"Clinton urges India 2 expand influence." Celente urges Clinton: MYOB! As Sec. of State Hitlery has started, new wars & kept old ones going Gerald Celente
Clinton is living in a fools paradise. Everyone knows that the Indo-Pak dialogue is going nowhere because none of the Governments are in a position to deliver. Public on both sides of the border are being fooled merrily. Pakistan are masters in talking and keep talking but really have no inclination to desire change. The Indians keep showing to the public, we are trying. Kids can come up with better games to play.
We Need to see India growing, We are happy at least one from our Ethnicity "Sub-Continent" is growing.
Why we cant be like other nations like EU ?
@Mad-Paki: You are not bro you are wise.
@The Analyst: Dear Sir My heart felt felicitations to you for writing a sensible note at this hour of madness sweeping the subcontinent.
I agree with Mad Paki... also i am suspicious of amreeki involvement in Indo-Pak ties, we should not involve any third party in our talks as they will always benefit from us being enemies and not friends!
STOP giving such headlines showing as if the US is master of the region of subcontinent. Media is creating such a mentality in public and it is completely ignorant, unprofessional and against self esteem of the people of this region.
Clinton makes a simple statement encouraging the peace talks between India and Pakistan and the anti USA brigade craps all over her and start their conspiracy theory nonsense. The term "grow up" comes to mind.
MadPaki: Well said bro; You are definitely not mad.
it's in US interest that indo-pak hostilities continue,otherwise US arms industry will suffer heavy loss :D.
India is not just our neighbor but an emerging power therefore it is not wise to have constant tension with them. The issues which divides us are few than the things which can bring us together. The need is to start looking at areas of mutual interest in order to create trust and narrow our differences. Hopefully, with time, we will come to a point where we can sit down solver our differences without the need for brinkmanship or war.
Ecouraged or disappointed? We dont need no ecouragement from YANKEES. India is our neighbor and we should engage India bilateraly and capitalise any opportunity to improve our relations with them, regardless uncle SAM happy or unhappy.
Hey Everybody, Let's pray for these peace talks to have a positive outcome. We need peace between India and Pakistan. There are millions of people suffering from poverty, lack of education, lack of access to good health care to name a few--on both sides. However, India seems to be on the right track with an established democracy, secularism (inspite of some bad apples), and an upward moving middle class and an assimilative culture.
My Pakistani brothers, lets concentrate on making "peace" the first priority, so the country can also divulge its resources on upliftment of the poor, education, health and social reforms. Indians are not obsessed with you, (an appeal to Pakistan's corrupt leaders and Security agancies)-- So please stop making India an obsession for your foreign policy and for your internal agendas, and please work for the betterment of your masses. And you shall have India's whole hearted support in acheiving that goal.
USA can never afford India and Pakistan come closer.Every time they see it happening they come and poke their nose.Pakistan has destroyed itself second time by fighting american war but still they are friends of our enemy.Friends of enemy is your enemy,said great chinese leader.They stopped our aid in 1965,then in 1971 and again now.How can they be trustworthy.India must be encouraging USA to twist Pakistan arms.
india encouraged by us-pak quarrels..
Encourage or discourage?? It is always US,Russia and China's interest that both India and Pakistan keep on fighting with each other and then they need them most and get the most out of both countries.
Ms.Clinton, let us talk business and no poking on our foreign policies.
CFR send their ambassador Hillary Clinton to India to get them ready to be canon fodder for imperialist policies.
She talk very firmly about pakistan to do more on terrorism. Nothing is mentioned here. Misleading title. Sorry but very selective journalism.