US defence chief Leon Panetta on Wednesday acknowledged that India and the United States had “often deep” differences with Pakistan but said Washington and New Delhi needed to work to overcome them. “Pakistan is a complicated relationship for both of our countries but one that we must work to improve,” he was to say in a speech in New Delhi where he is meeting the country’s leaders to discuss China and Afghanistan. “India and the United States will need to continue to engage Pakistan, overcoming our respective – and often deep – differences with Pakistan to make all of South Asia peaceful and prosperous,” he added, according to prepared comments released ahead of the address. Panetta welcomed steps taken by India and Pakistan to normalise their trade relations, a new focus by the neighbours who are hoping greater commerce can pull them together.
