WASHINGTON: Increas­ed engagement between India and Pakistan is a positive step, says the US State Department while welcoming India’s prime minister-elect Narendra Modi’s invitation to the Pakistani premier to attend his inauguration.

“Broadly speaking, we welcome increased engagement between India and Pakistan and their leaders … and India’s engagement with its neighbours leading up to the inauguration,” said State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki when asked to comment on Mr Modi’s gesture.

Asked if the United States would encourage Pakistan leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony, Ms Psaki said: “I don’t think we’re going to get into that level of engagement, but certainly, the invitation has been issued, we support increased dialogue, and this is representative of that.”

The US official added: “We believe increased engagement between India and Pakistan is a positive step, so we’ll see what happens.”

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2014