WASHINGTON: The United States has once again asked India and Pakistan to work together to resolve their differences, ignoring suggestions that Washington should intervene to end tensions between the two neighbours.

“We want to see the conflict and the tension reduced, these are issues that need to be worked out between Indian and Pakistan,” the US State Department’s spokesperson John Kirby told a briefing in Washington.

Know more: US stresses need for improvement in India-Pakistan ties on all issues

He was responding to a question from an Indian journalist who claimed that at a recent speech at a Washington think-tank, Pakistan’s special advisor for foreign affairs, Tariq Fatemi, had sought America’s “intervention” to improve Islamabad’s ties with New Delhi.

“I don’t have anything more to add, other than what we’ve said before,” said Mr Kirby, refusing to get involved in a discussion on whether the US should or should not “intervene” between the two South Asian neighbours.

Since India opposes any outside interference in its relations with Pakistan, the United States avoids committing to a direct involvement and instead reminds both countries that they need to work together for bringing peace and stability to their region.

In his speech at the Heritage Foundation, Mr Fatemi said that Pakistan was keen on resolving its differences with India through dialogue and hoped that New Delhi would respond positively to the proposal for talks on all outstanding issues, including that of Jammu and Kashmir.

He noted that the recent meeting between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in Russia was an “important development” toward peace and stability.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play