South Asian engagement: US, UN welcome Nawaz-Modi meeting

State Dept spokesman also hails resumption of stalled dialogue

The United States and the United Nations have welcomed Friday’s meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in the Russian city of Ufa and the resumption of stalled dialogue between Pakistan and India.

“I wanted to welcome the meeting that took place earlier today between Prime Ministers Modi and Nawaz,” US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark C Toner told reporters at his daily news briefing in Washington DC on Saturday.

Read: Nawaz-Modi huddle draws mixed response

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,” he said.



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

Asked how Washington viewed Pakistan and India’s entry in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the spokesman said that it was a decision of the two countries.

Read: Modi accepts Nawaz’s invitation for first Pakistan visit

The UN has also hailed the meeting between premiers Nawaz and Modi as a positive development, Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2015.