BHUBANESWAR: The US has welcomed resumption of bilateral talks between India and Pakistan stating that it will have a major impact on security and stability in the region. However, it has called upon Pakistan to act strongly against terrorism that threatens the very efforts to ensure peaceful relationships between the two countries.
The NSA level talks and the visit of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan is a huge positive. Revival of bilateral relationships between the countries will not only benefit both but also be crucial to establishing security and stability across the whole region including Afghanistan, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal said here on Monday.
Biswal, who is on a week-long visit to Odisha, the native of her husband Subrat Biswal, emphasised intensified crackdown on terror networks by Pakistan. “There has been increasing realisation and action by Pakistan Government against terror groups. Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism. We continue to urge them to steel their action towards eliminating all networks that target their own establishments or outside including India and US government and their interests,” she said.
The top US official, who oversees US foreign policy and relations with South and Central Asian countries, also said it was closely monitoring the situation in Nepal which has been undergoing intense violence and turmoil following the promulgation of the controversial Constitution.
“We perceive the Constitution historic which would carry the Country forward. But there are certain inadequacies concerning the long-standing problems of a section of Nepalese population that has to be resolved. We have urged the Nepali leaders to engage with the aggrieved constituencies and address their concerns,” she said.
Talking on Indo-US relationship, she opined that the two countries have never been more closer than now. “The relationship has moved beyond Delhi-Washington. The overwhelming success of global Climate Change conference and the landmark agreement, where both US and India played a major role, is a sign of the bonding between the two,” Biswal said.