US would continue to support talks between India and Pak: US State dept.

WASHINGTON - The United States has been working with both India and Pakistan and would continue to support meetings between the leadership of the two neighbouring countries in order to find ways to improve their bilateral dialogue, the US State Department has said.

“I’m not aware that we’re going to try to bring together Pakistani and Indian officials here in Washington, but we continue to encourage both sides to find ways to improve their bilateral dialogue,” Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, PJ Crowley, said.

Speaking during a regular briefing here, Crowley said Washington has encouraged meetings between the leaders of the two countries in the past, as it wants peace and stability in the region.

“I think we certainly have encouraged previous meetings that have taken place between Indian officials and Pakistani officials. We think that’s vitally important,” The Daily Times quoted Crowley, as saying.

Crowley’s statement came as Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh had an informal meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the two-day nuclear security summit in Washington. (ANI)