'We hope any country condemns terrorism...': US on India-Pakistan ties

Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US Department of State. ANI

While it said that it's focusing to deepen its ties with India in a number of key spaces, the US on Tuesday said that it welcomes any country to take positive steps with their neighbours, including condemning terrorism when it comes to relationship between India and Pakistan.

"We would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere but ultimately this is between India and Pakistan. Broadly, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours..," said Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US Department of State.

When asked about India-US relations in wake of India's relations with a few countries that the US doesn't have good relations with, he said the two countries are focusing on deepening its relations in a number of key spaces, including economic and security ties, and will continue to do so.

"...India is a country in which we are deepening our relations with in a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation...So, this is an area that we will continue to cultivate this relationship..," said the Principal Deputy Spokesperson.

Earlier also the US had said that it wants India and Pakistan to have a "productive and peaceful relationship" but made it clear that the pace, scope, and character of any dialogue was a matter for the two neighbours to determine.

The relations between India and Pakistan nosedived after the Centre revoked Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had recently sent a "positive message" to India, by saying his country does not believe in "perpetual hostility" and urged the new government in New Delhi to do a "sober reflection" on its future ties with Islamabad.

"We seek good neighbourly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a just and peaceful resolution of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Dar had said.

He said Pakistan will also take every step needed to maintain strategic stability in South Asia and would respond effectively and decisively to any ill-considered military misadventure by India. Dar also urged the BJP-led government to have a reflection of ties with Pakistan.

"Rather than fight with each other, it would be prudent for the South Asian nations to combat these challenges. We are not only the least economically integrated region, but also one with the lowest rankings on almost all indices of human development," the minister added.

With inputs from agencies