WEB DESK
United States and China have urged India and Pakistan to solve their differences over Kashmir peacfully, even as tensions between the two neighbours has esclated after terror attack in Uri in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed.
The US State Department said it would continue to put pressure on two countries to respond to those groups who were seeking safe haven on Pakistan’s borders.
“What we have said many times from the podium is that we want to see closer and normalisation of relationship between India and Pakistan,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner told media at his daily news conference.
“It would benefit the region. We want to see de-escalation in the political discourse between the two countries and greater communication and coordination between them,” Toner said.
At the same time, the State Department refrained from commenting on India’s decision to pull out of the SAARC Summit. “I would refer you to the Government of India to comment on their decision not to attend this meeting,” Toner said.
On the other hand China hoped that India and India will strengthen channels for dialogue,
“China hopes that Pakistan and India will strengthen channels for dialogue, appropriately handle any differences, improve bilateral relations and together protect the region’s peace and stability”, a deputy foreign minister told Pakistan’s special envoys to China for Kashmir, according to the foreign ministry website.
The deputy minister, Liu Zhenmin, also told the envoys that China values Pakistan’s position on Kashmir.
