The United States on Friday asked Pakistan and India to take steps to reduce tension and move towards resuming talks, saying the two countries have mutual interest in addressing the threat posed by violent extremism and terrorism.
“The relationship between India and Pakistan is critical to advancing peace and stability in South Asia,” U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Jeff Rathke said while responding to a question about the tension in the backdrop of India’s operations inside Myanmar.
“We welcome any steps India and Pakistan can take to reduce tensions and move toward resuming dialogue,” the spokesman said.
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“We encourage India and Pakistan to take those kinds of steps, and we believe that India and Pakistan each have a mutual interest in addressing the threat posed by violent extremism and terrorism.”
Asked if U.S has reached out officially to India or Pakistan to defuse the tension that are really rising at this moment, he said: ” We’ve encouraged a reduction of tensions on both sides at high levels, so thats it is something we’ve mentioned.”
To a supplementary question, he said “We encourage India and Pakistan to take steps to reduce tensions and to move towards resuming talks”. (Agencies)
