The United States has expressed its desire for India and Pakistan to have a “productive and peaceful relationship,” but emphasized that they should determine the pace, scope, and character of any dialogue between the two countries.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller made these remarks in response to questions regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message to newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his second term oath-taking.
“We, of course, welcome the prime minister’s statement. The United States values its relationships with India and Pakistan, and we want to see them have productive and peaceful relationships,” Miller stated.
India-Pakistan Relations (Credits: PressWire18)
While the US would welcome productive and peaceful talks between India and Pakistan, Miller emphasized that the two countries should decide the specifics of any dialogue.
Sharif assumed office for his second term on Monday following an inconclusive election marked by allegations of vote rigging. However, experts in Pakistan have suggested that there may not be an immediate improvement in ties between Pakistan and India due to their significant differences over the Kashmir issue.
India and Pakistan have had a complex relationship since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947, with periods of engagement interspersed with conflicts.
Tensions escalated in 2019 when India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganized the state into two Union Territories, leading to a deterioration in bilateral relations.
