By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The US hopes that greater understanding and progress on the issue of Pakistan moving forward with prosecution of those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks would emerge from the ongoing India-Pakistan dialogue.
“Obviously, we want to see greater understanding and progress, particularly on the issue of Pakistan moving forward with prosecution of those responsible for the Mumbai attacks,” Assistant Secretary for South Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake told reporters Wednesday.
And there are some indications in the Pakistani press that the charge sheets are going to be filed as early as next week on that, which certainly would be a positive step forward, he said in a briefing on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s five-day visit to India starting Friday.
But the US did not play any role in setting up a meeting Thursday between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan premier Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Blake said. “I mean, this was set up entirely between the two countries. And as I said earlier, it’s a continuation of some of the previous contacts they have already had.”
Referring to earlier meetings between Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari as also those between other officials, Blake said: “So I think there’s already been good dialogue underway and certainly we welcome that. And I’m sure that Pakistan will be a subject of discussion during the meetings between Clinton and Indian officials.”
Asked if the US shared India’s perception that Pakistan was still running terrorist training camps, Blake said: “Let me just say on the whole broad issue of terrorism that the United States has been very encouraged by the important steps that Pakistan has taken, most notably its operation in the Swat Valley and now more recently some of the steps in South Waziristan.
“We think those steps have garnered the support of the Pakistani people and that that support in turn will help provide the basis for continued action to make sure that Pakistani soil is not used as a platform from which terrorist attacks can be launched against any of its neighbours.”
Denying that Clinton was trying to send a signal by not going to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Blake said: “She is not really trying to send any signal at all. This is a trip where we’re trying to focus on India and really highlight the new strategic partnership and again, all the people-to-people ties.
“But that doesn’t mean that we attach any less importance to Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is already extensive high level engagement between the United States and the leaders of both of those countries.
“So we’re not trying to send any signal at all, except at this stage to talk about our enhanced relationship with India. And I know that the secretary looks forward to an early opportunity to get out to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.”