In line with its policy against third-party mediation on Kashmir, the United States has ruled out the appointment of any special envoy to encourage India and Pakistan to resolve their differences and hold dialogue on bilateral issues, including Kashmir.
While stating that US Ambassadors in New Delhi and Islamabad have reached out to the respective Governments in the wake of tensions following the recent incidents of violence along the line of Control, the State Department has dismissed the idea of naming a special envoy.
“I think we can encourage them to have dialogue and to resolve the dispute. But we don’t have to do that necessarily with an envoy. I think our ambassadors are very engaged on the ground on this,” said Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf in response to a reporter’s question on whether the US should appoint an envoy to encourage the two countries to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Reiterating that the US’s policy on Kashmir has not changed, the spokesman said that while Washington would continue to encourage both sides to move forward with this dialogue, it was entirely up to India and Pakistan to determine between them the pace, scope and character of their dialogue on Kashmir. “We’ll engage when we think it’s appropriate, as our ambassadors are doing,” she added.
Harf said that Washington has been concerned about any violence along the line of Control, adding, “We understand that the Governments of India and Pakistan are in contact over these issues. We will continue to encourage further dialogue.”
“Our ambassadors in both India and Pakistan have raised these recent incidents with their respective host Governments and conveyed our hope that India and Pakistan will continue the steps they have recently taken to improve their bilateral relationship,” she said.
Asked if the situation was being perceived as more alarming since both countries have nuclear weapons, Harf commented, “I think it probably goes without saying that because of their capabilities that we would be concerned by any increased tension. I’m not saying that’s what’s happening now, just hypothetically speaking if that were to happen. It’s exactly the reason why we are encouraging dialogue.”