US tries to pacify India

WASHINGTON: After ruffling feathers in Delhi with a reference to Indo-Pak ties, the US today sought to pacify India saying it has to decide with Pakistan the substance, scope and pace of their relationship.

"We've always said, in terms of Indo-Pakistan relations, that's really up to India and Pakistan to decide how and when and the scope of that," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, told reporters here.

Trying to placate New Delhi which is upset over the joint statement issued in Beijing after talks between President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, the US said it has an "equally important relationship" with India as that with China.

"I don't think there needs to be any concern in India about what the President said in China. We have very important relations with China. But we have equally important relations with India.

"And I think that will come out very clearly during the course of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit next week," he said.

India had yesterday reacted sharply after both Obama and Hu voiced support for the improvement of Indo-Pak ties and their readiness to promote peace and stability in the region in the joint statement.

New Delhi made it clear that a third country role cannot be envisaged nor is it necessary.