NEW DELHI: The US has no plans to mediate between India and Pakistan, Washington’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said during his visit to India on Wednesday. “We cannot negotiate between the two countries. Our trip was designed to move forward a process in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We stopped here to inform and consult the Indian government,” he said when asked if the US was trying to push India and Pakistan to settle Kashmir.
Talking to reporters after his talks with Indian officials, Holbrooke and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen called for cooperation between India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US to fight the “common threat” and stabilise the region.
| The common threat is Pakistain ... |
Holbrooke said Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Masood was a danger to Pakistan and Afghanistan, but his threats to the US were not backed by events.
The envoy expressed concern over the events in Swat. “We met people of the area to learn more about it. It was a very difficult and touching meeting. What has happened in Swat has stunned many people in Pakistan. Events in Lahore – attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team and a police academy – have raised concerns. Everyone should know what is happening,” he said.
Holbrooke said his visit to India was also aimed at moving beyond bilateral relations and involving India in global and strategic issues. “We cannot settle Afghanistan and many other issues without India’s full involvement,” he said.
| That'll twist a few tails in Pak-land ... |
The US officials had extensive discussions with IndiaÂ’s National Security Adviser MK Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon in the last leg of their whirlwind tour. Mullen separately also met navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta. |