US to not mediate in Indo-Pakistani talks

The United States will not seek to mediate in the Indo-Pakistani, foreign secretary-level talks, scheduled to be held later this month. US Ambassador to India Frank G Wisner has said.

''We applaud the approach India has recently taken in improving relations with Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka and hope for comparable progress in Indo-Pakistani relations. We are as pleased as any nation that discussions between the two governments will begin shortly. We seek no role as mediator but will be happy to support, as we are sure others would,'' Wisner said in New Delhi on Friday, March 7, while addressing a conference, jointly organised by the Asia Society and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The US, he said, would seek to engage India in a partnership that would address the problems faced by political systems of both the countries besides encouraging democratic government and observance of internationally recognised human rights throughout Asia.

He also expressed hope that India and Pakistan would change their stand on nuclear non-proliferation and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. ''I believe we share common goals and we should be able to find a way to cooperate in achieving them. Most immediately, I hope the governments of these two countries will not stand in the way of a fissile material cut-off agreement.''

UNI