India and Pakistan should settle issues between themselves, US won't mediate: Biden administration

The Biden administration, ahead of US secretary of state Antony Blinken's India visit, has made it clear that it would not mediate between India and Pakistan in what would please New Delhi.

Ahead of Blinken's visit, US acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Dean Thompson told a select group of reporters on Friday that the issues between India and Pakistan were "ones for them to work out between themselves".

The US is "pleased to see" that the ceasefire that went into place earlier this year has remained intact, he said, adding: "We certainly always encourage them to continue their efforts to find ways to build a more stable relationship going forward."


During the Trump years, the President himself had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on more than one occasion. However, India has repeatedly made it clear that it does not favour any mediation in any bilateral relationship.

Blinken's visit will also help to finetune the agenda for the next edition of the 2+2 meeting (of foreign and defence ministers) that will be hosted in Washington later this year.