US Officially Backs Direct Bilateral Talks Between Pakistan and India

The US has stated its support for direct negotiations between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged that a “serious” dialogue be initiated with the bordering country.

At a press conference in Washington on Wednesday, US State Department spokeswoman Matthew Miller said that the US has traditionally supported such talks.

“We have long advocated for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of mutual concern.” That has traditionally been our stance,” he explained.

PM Shehbaz underlined his openness to engage with India on Tuesday, reiterating that Pakistan had “nothing against anyone” in his bid to advance regional development.

Despite a history of rocky relations between the two countries, which has been damaged by three wars since their independence in 1947, the premier hopes to develop constructive engagement.

However, bilateral relations have been severely harmed by India’s decision in August 2019 to abolish the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a virtual halt in diplomatic interactions between the two nations.

“We are prepared to talk with anyone, including our neighbor, if the neighbor is serious about discussing serious issues on the table because war is no longer an option,” PM Shehbaz stated.

He stated that the country had fought three wars with India in the last 75 years, resulting in greater poverty, unemployment, and a lack of resources to finance education, health, and well-being.

He emphasised that this is not the way to go, but rather to combat regional economic competition.

“Because who will live to tell what happened if there is a nuclear flashpoint?” So (war) is not an option,” he added, emphasizing that while Pakistan understands the situation, India must also recognise it.

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