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‘US values ties with Pakistan, India’

* US diplomat says Washington recognises China’s role in enforcing peace in region

WASHINGTON: The US will maintain close relations with both Pakistan and India, assuring Islamabad that it should not feel threatened by the steps Washington is taking to advance US-India relations, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake said on Wednesday.

“We value our partnership with Pakistan and India,” Blake said at a briefing, days ahead of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s state visit to Washington, aimed at expanding US-India relations. “I don’t think Islamabad should be threatened by the steps we are taking,” he said when asked specifically how Pakistan should view the Indian leader’s November 22-26 visit. Singh will hold talks with President Barack Obama on strengthening ties in the economic, defence and a host of other sectors.

Blake said at the beginning of its tenure, the Obama administration had said the US was focusing on Pakistan and Afghanistan, but was now forging ties with New Delhi as well. “There was a good reason for that in part because Pakistan and Afghanistan are extremely important and also because the Indian government had not [at the time] had its elections.” In terms of US defence deals with India - said to be worth around $10 billion – Blake said these were being worked out and longer-term sales were in the planning stages.

He praised Pakistan’s ongoing anti-Taliban campaign in South Waziristan and other parts of the country. “I think the steps that Pakistan has taken in Swat and South Waziristan show that they are taking the extremist threat within Pakistan very seriously,” he said. To a question, he said Pakistan “has made some progress” in investigation into the Mumbai attacks and expected more cooperation from Islamabad in prosecuting the culprits behind the attacks. Blake also recognised China’s role in enforcing security and stability in the region, both in Pakistan-India and Pakistan-Afghanistan contexts, saying the US would like to get Beijing’s views on improving security situation in the region. app

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