Without going into the circumstances leading to India calling off the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan next week, the United States has termed the cancellation “unfortunate”, urging both countries to take steps to improve bilateral relations.
“It is unfortunate that planned talks between India and Pakistan have fallen through,” State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters, adding the US would continue supporting efforts by the two nations to improve all aspects of their bilateral relations.
“That is a position we will continue making clear to both parties,” Harf said, but she made it clear that there is no change in the US policy on Kashmir, commenting: “We continue to believe that the pace and the scope and character of any discussions on Kashmir are for India and Pakistan to determine between them. That hasn’t changed and that will remain our position going forward.”
Pakistan has for years been seeking a third-party mediation by the United States on the Kashmir issue and successive administrations in Washington have rejected its tireless entreaties in much the same language.