India, Pakistan should discuss Kashmir 'directly': US

WASHINGTON: The US has ruled out any mediation on the Kashmir dispute, saying the issue needs to be discussed directly between India and Pakistan.

The US believes India and Pakistan "need to keep building a better relationship" and "work together" on issues like Kashmir, said US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf.

Asked at a news briefing yesterday about Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's reported comments last week that Kashmir could trigger a fourth war between India and Pakistan, Harf replied, "I didn't actually see those comments, so I don't want to respond to comments I haven't seen.

"We've been very clear that this is an issue we think needs to be discussed directly between Pakistan and India."

The US recently spurned attempts by Sharif to get it to play a mediatory role in resolving the Kashmir issue.