No comment on PM’s Balochistan remarks.
No comment on PM’s Balochistan remarks.
The United States on Tuesday refused to comment on the situation in the Kashmir Valley, which has been in the grip of ceaseless violence for a month-and-a-half, saying that the matter had to be decided by the parties concerned.
According to PTI, when asked in an interview by the news website The Quint to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Balochistan, US ambassador Richard Verma said, “I would let the Prime Minister’s comment stand on its own.”
On the situation in Kashmir, he said, “About the increased tension in Kashmir in particular, it’s our long-standing policy to leave the matter to be decided by the parties involved.” Interestingly, the US is being seen as somewhat subdued in its reactions to the current situation in the Kashmir Valley following India and the US moving closer to each other politically during the tenure of the Modi government.
On why the US does not raise concerns over terrorism originating in Pakistan and directed against India, Mr Verma said that he would like to “disagree” with the suggestion. “In the last 15 years in particular, the US, under different administrations, has gone after terrorists, wherever they are, including the LeT. I don’t think there should be any mistaking our commitment,” the US envoy added.
Terming terrorism a “huge issue”, he said the US has also been a victim just like India. Since 9/11, the US has been unrelenting regarding terrorism, he said. On how America can deal with China’s bid to block India’s NSG membership, Mr Verma said it was hard-work diplomacy, but the US can “get it done”.
