Any conflict between the nuclear armed India and Pakistan would be disastrous not only for the two South Asian neighbours but also the region and the world, a top American diplomat has said.
"They're both nuclear-armed powers, and a conflict between them would be disastrous not just for them, but for everyone," US special representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbins, told foreign journalists at a news conference here.
Interacting with media at the Washington Foreign Press Centre, Dobbins said the United States "would support any initiatives which led to an improvement" in relationship between the two countries.
"We think it's important for both countries, it's important for the stability of the broader region, it's important for the world," he said responding to a question. Dobbins said the US supports improved Afghanistan-Pakistan relations specifically because it would alleviate some of the pressures and tensions that give rise to the conflict in Afghanistan.
"So from our standpoint, there's everything to be gained from an improvement in that relationship," he said. Responding to questions, Dobbins said there has been improvement in relationship between Pakistan and the US.
"It's clear that we now have a government that has a mandate from the people, that has a clear majority in the parliament, that is committed to moving forward both on the security and the economic agendas, and we're anxious to be helpful and they're anxious to work with us in order to allow us to be helpful," he said referring to the recent elections in Pakistan.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who recently visited Pakistan has a personal relationship with the new Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.
"Kerry had an excellent visit, his first as Secretary of State to Pakistan but not his first visit to Pakistan as an individual."
"He's on a first-name basis with the Prime Minister and knows the country well, has visited it often," he said.