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No policy change on Kashmir, says U.S.
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No policy change on Kashmir, says U.S.
Washington, August 09, 2019 07:30 IST
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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Bangkok last week.
Responding to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir, Ms. Ortagus said, “I really don’t want to go beyond what we’ve said, because it’s such a tenuous issue. It’s something that we’re talking to them about quite closely.”
“The United States, whenever it comes to any region in the world where there are tensions, asks for people to observe the rule of law, respect for human rights, respect for international norms. We ask people to maintain peace and security and direct dialogue,” she said.
The State Department spokesperson said the U.S. was closely monitoring the situation in
Ms. Ortagus reiterated earlier statements that the U.S. was not consulted and informed by India about its decision on scrapping articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution.
“There was no heads up given,” she said.
Successive U.S. administrations’ policy have been to encourage India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue.
The Trump administration has insisted that Pakistan needs to create conducive conditions for talks by taking irreversible and decisive actions against terrorist and militant groups operating from its soil.
Meanwhile, after Acting Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, another senior U.S. diplomat is heading to India.
The visit was pre-scheduled but it would be used to discuss the current issues, Ms. Ortagus said.
“Deputy Secretary of State John J Sullivan will travel to Thimphu, Bhutan, and New Delhi, August 11 through 17th to advance the United States partnership with two nations that are critical to preserving the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region,” the US State Department spokesperson said.
In Bhutan, she said, Sullivan will explore expanding and deepening the ties with the government and people of Bhutan.
The deputy secretary will be the highest-level executive branch official from the United States to visit Bhutan in over two decades, Ms. Ortagus added.
She said Sullivan will then travel to New Delhi to advance the “broad and multifaceted” US-India Strategic Partnership, which is based on a shared commitment to democratic values, economic growth and rule of law.
“There, the deputy secretary will meet Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and address the India-US Forum,” Ms. Ortagus said.