United States Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged Washington’s full support for improvement in Pakistan-India relations in the interest of two South Asian neighbours as well as regional stability and prosperity.
Speaking on the eve of US-India Strategic Dialogue, to be held in New Delhi this week, Kerry noted that both Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian PM Narendra Modi – who met in the Indian capital in late May at the inaugural ceremony of the new Indian leader – want to create an opportunity for their people.
He said by inviting South Asian leaders to his swearing-in ceremony and by discussing connecting regional economies, Modi has shown that he is eager for India to play a leading role in regional connectivity.
“Nowhere is that leadership more critical than in improving cross-border trade and relations between India and Pakistan,” Kerry said.
Kerry was articulating US policy on advancing relations with India in a speech at think tank Center for American Progress.
He noted that Sharif was encouraged after his visit to New Delhi and thought it was positive.
“Improved trade is a win-win for both countries. There are plans for the commerce secretaries and foreign secretaries to meet in the coming weeks in order to build on that.
“I commit to you that the US will do everything we can to encourage India and Pakistan to work together and improve the prospects for both prosperity and stability in the region,” he added.
The US Secretary of State said, “India has already shown a deep commitment to regional stability with the generous investments in Afghanistan,” and that Washington looked forward to New Delhi working with its neighbours to help realise Afghanistan’s connections in the region.
Kerry said that support from the international community will be vital “at this critical moment of transition”.
Kerry asserted that he would continue to work closely with Afghan President Karzai, Afghan candidates and United Nations, in order to provide Afghanistan with support during the transition.
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