US finally leaves dialogue to India and Pakistan

NEW DELHI: The United States, which has been urging India to start talking to Pakistan, has said that it was for India and Pakistan to decide the ���character��� and ���timing��� of resuming the dialogue process that was stalled after the Mumbai terror attacks.

Undersecretary of state for political affairs William Burns ���- who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday and handed over a ``private letter������ from US President Barack Obama ��� said the US would welcome the resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue. ���The US has always welcomed dialogue between India and Pakistan and better relations between both countries. It���s obvious that the pace and scope and character of the dialogue is for India and Pakistan to decide... and also how and when to approach,������ he said.

However, the US is also clearly aware of India���s hesitation in restarting the dialogue process without Pakistan taking some action on terror. In remarks that were clearly aimed at reassuring New Delhi on this score, Mr Burns said the Obama administration would continue to push Islamabad to take ``concrete action������ to dismantle the terror infrastructure targeted at India.

``I do understand the depth of concern in India...We continue to push hard for the Pakistani government to act firmly and bring those responsible to justice and to crackdown on the terrorist infrastructure so we don���t see a repeat (of the Mumbai terror attacks),������ he said, and added, ``I can only emphasise to you the seriousness with which we view this effort and the importance we attach to further concrete steps.������ He further said that Pakistan has the responsibility to act ``immediately������ and ``thoroughly.������

Mr Burns��� visit is clearly aimed at reassuring the Indian leadership about continued US support in the region even as it goes about implementing the Af-Pak policy. Describing his meeting with the prime minister as positive, Mr Burns further said that he had handed over a message to Mr Singh from Mr Obama underscoring the US commitment to ``broadening and deepening������ the relationship with India.

The new administration���s focus on the Af-Pak policy has raised concerns here that the terror infrastructure targeted at India would continue to operate without impunity even as Pakistan earned brownie points with the US by taking action against the Taliban. The Pakistani leadership has also been trying to sell the idea that it will be able to take action more effectively on its western border if the Kashmir issue is resolved with India.

Aware of India���s sensitivities on Kashmir, Mr Burns merely reiterated that the US welcomed dialogue between India and Pakistan and the US view was that ``the resolution of the Kashmir issue has to take into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.������

But the US has made it clear that it would continue to strengthen the Pakistani establishment through various means, including aid to fight the threat of extremism. India is concerned that US aid being pumped into Pakistan could be diverted to build up capabilities that are targeted against India. Mr Burns, however, said that the US would closely monitor the aid that was being given to Islamabad. ``Those assistances we may look at carefully and evaluate to ensure that they are used for the purposes they are intended.

Mr Burns��� visit is being seen as significant as this is the first high level engagement between India and US after the elections and this visit is expected to set the agenda for the visit of US secretary of State Hillary Clinton next month. Mr Burns said the visit of the US secretary of state so soon after the Indian elections was a ``clear indication������ of the significance the US attaches to ties with India.