US welcomes resumption of Pakistan, India dialogue

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also welcomes the meeting between Nawaz and Modi

The United States on Friday welcomed the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Ufa, and the announcement for resumption of stalled dialogue.

“I wanted to welcome the meeting that took place earlier today between Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif,” State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters during the daily briefing in Washington.

He added that the US also welcomed the announcement of future engagement between Pakistan and India. “We also welcome the announcement that India and Pakistan will discuss a range of bilateral issues, including security, people-to-people ties and expediting the Mumbai trial.”

“We support all steps between the governments of India and Pakistan to strengthen their dialogue and cooperation.”

Asked about SCO membership, Toner said that it was a decision of the two countries to do that.

On Friday, Nawaz met with Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Ufa.

Following the meeting Pakistan and India, in a joint statement, announced a five-point plan for future engagement including resumption of the stalled bilateral dialogue.

UN welcomes Pak-India thaw in ties

The UN has also hailed the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as a positive development, reported Radio Pakistan.

Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “This development in Pakistan-India relations is important for both countries.”