US calls for de-escalation in India-Pakistan political discourse

Washington, September 28

The US has called for “de-escalation of the political discourse” between India and Pakistan amid the war of words between the two nations after the Uri terror attack that prompted New Delhi to pull out of the SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November.

The State Department also said it would continue to put pressure on them to respond to those groups who were seeking safe haven on Pakistan’s borders.

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“What we have said many times from the podium is that we want to see closer and normalisation of relationship between India and Pakistan,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.

“It would benefit the region. We want to see de-escalation in the political discourse between the two countries and greater communication and coordination between them,” Toner said.

At the same time, the State Department refrained from commenting on India’s decision to pull out of the SAARC Summit.

“I would refer you to the Government of India to comment on their decision not to attend this meeting,” Toner said.

He said it is not for the US to “offer a prescription” to de-escalate tension between the South Asian neighbours.

“It is in mutual interest for both the countries to put aside tensions and establish more normal channels of communication,” the deputy spokesperson said.

“While we have seen Pakistan make progress on some of the terrorist groups operating within its own borders and carrying out attacks within its borders, we continue to put pressure on them to respond to those groups which are seeking safe haven on Pakistan’s borders,” Toner added.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the US had continued to “encourage India and Pakistan to find ways to resolve their differences, not through violence, but through diplomacy”.

“We have condemned violence, particularly terrorist attacks,” he said.

He was responding to a question on India’s decision not to attend the SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November citing continuous cross-border terrorism by Pakistan against India. PTI