WASHINGTON: The US wants to work with Pakistan and India to reduce the threat of a nuclear conflict in South Asia, a senior US official tells Congress.

In a written statement submitted to the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees for the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia and the Pacific on Wednesday, the official expresses the US desire to mediate between India and Pakistan but insists that this is not mediation.

“The South Asia strategy also focuses on reducing tensions between Pakistan and India. The United States does not seek a role as a mediator between India and Pakistan, but encourages both countries to restart dialogue at the earliest opportunity,” said Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G. Wells. “An improved relationship between these two countries is critical to regional security and stability.”

The document she submitted before the two subcommittees — “The Pres­ident’s Plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan: Objectives and Resources” — defines Washington’s effort to reduce tensions between India and Pak­istan as a key element of US Pre­sident Donald Trump’s new strategy for South Asia, announced on Aug 21.

“We are increasingly concerned about the threat to strategic stability in South Asia associated with the introduction of new nuclear capable ballistic or cruise missile systems in the region. In particular, the region and the world look to both Pakistan and India to safeguard against a nuclear conflict in South Asia,” she said.

“In this context, the United States remains concerned about Pakistan’s growing fissile material stockpiles and its expanding and diversifying military nuclear and missile programmes,” she added.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2017