NEW DELHI, Feb 14: India on Thursday ruled out any role for the United States in facilitating a dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Commenting on reports that US President George W. Bush had offered to facilitate a dialogue between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, an Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson said there was no room for third party involvement in matters between India and Pakistan.

“Our position in the matter is very clear. It is for India and Pakistan to address the outstanding issues through bilateral dialogue.

There is no room for third party involvement,” spokesperson Nirupama Rao said in a statement.

She refused to comment on President Pervez Musharraf’s current visit to the United States, saying “we don’t pass judgment on third-country relations”.

But India was not against the development of “normal” relations between the US and Pakistan, she added.

Addressing a joint press conference with President Musharraf on Wednesday in Washington, President Bush said while the US hoped to facilitate a meaningful dialogue between the two countries, it was ultimately left to them to sit down and talk to resolve outstanding issues like Kashmir.—dpa