UNITED NATIONS: State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated on Wednesday that the US would welcome a “productive and peaceful relationship” between India and Pakistan. However, he made it plain that the two nations would decide on the nature, extent, and speed of any talks.
Miller made the comment in response to a query from a Pakistani journalist regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congrats to Shehbaz Sharif, the recently elected prime minister of Pakistan, on his swearing-in for a second term.
Naturally, we applaud the prime minister of India’s remarks. Miller stated during his daily news conference that “the United States values its relationship with both India and Pakistan, and we want to see them have a productive and peaceful relationship.”
In response to another query, he stated, “We would welcome productive and peaceful talks between India and Pakistan, but the pace, scope, and character of any dialogue is a matter for India and Pakistan to determine.”
Prime Minister Modi thanked Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan on taking the oath of office on Monday on Tuesday.
Following India’s abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and divided the state into two Union Territories in defiance of international law and UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute, the two neighbors’ relations worsened in 2019.
In response to a further query, Miller said that although the murder attempt on a Sikh activist in the US took place five months ago, the investigation into it including the Indian government was still underway.
He continued, “From what I understand, the investigation is ongoing.”
