Thaindian News

Washington, Jun.2 (ANI): Stressing that the United States wants better ties with both India and Pakistan, a top Obama administration official has said that it was imperative to not to let the activities of terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) go unchecked.

Talking to reporters here, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns said Washington desires better ties between both India and Pakistan, as the international community can not afford continuous tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

“None of us, least of all the two nations, can afford to see groups with global terrorist ambitions like the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) continue unchecked,” The Daily Times quoted Burns, as saying.

He also said that the Obama administration values its relationship with Islamabad, but not at the expense of New Delhi.

“Of course the US attaches considerable importance to relations with Pakistan, but those relations do not come at the expense of India. We refuse to accept the notion that somehow we can have strong relations with only one country in South Asia at a time,” Burns said.

While the Obama administration is making preparations to host the first ever-strategic dialogue with India, which would be held on June 3, Burns made it clear that the US would not indulge in issues pending between the two South Asian countries, adding that it would certainly continue to urge Islamabad to take firm action against extremist groups flourishing on its soil and threatening the whole international community.

“We will not inject ourselves into issues that divide the two governments unless India and Pakistan ask for our help, and we will continue to urge Pakistan to take decisive action against the violent extremists who threaten its own interests as much as they do the security of India and America.” Burns said.

He said President Obama has welcomed the recent steps initiated by the leaderships of India and Pakistan to deescalate the heightened tension and move towards a constructive dialogue, including the planned meeting in Islamabad in July between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

“The president has welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s willingness to take political risks in order to lessen tensions with Pakistan and has promised that the United States will continue to support those efforts,” Burns said. (ANI)