Obama: US can’t impose solution to Kashmir

NEW DELHI - U.S President Barack Obama on Monday said the United States “cannot impose a solution to Kashmir,” but had offered to help the two countries work out the problem, saying he believed both “have an interest in reducing tensions”

Addressing the joint press conference with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Obama said: ” US could not impose a solution on Kashmir.”

“Dialogue between India and Pakistan may not begin on the particular flashpoint (Kashmir),” said Obama adding, “I believe that it is in the interest of India and Pakistan to reduce tensions between themselves and the US cannot impose solutions to these problems.”

Agreeing that there is a need for all nations in the region to take steps to ensure that there are no safe havens for terrorists, Obama said, “I indicated to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that that I am happy to play any role the two parties may want to reduce tensions between the two countries.”

“Both the countries involved hope that conversations will take place to resolve the issue,” he added.

Praising Dr. Singh, Obama said: “Manmohan Singh throughout his Prime Ministership has consistently spoken out both privately and publicly on his desire and personal commitment to reducing tensions between India and Pakistan. I very much commend him on that.”

He is sincere and relentless in his desire for peace. So my hope is that both sides can over the next several months or years find mechanisms that are appropriate to work out on these issues,” he added. (ANI)