United States welcomes India-Pakistan talks

New Delhi, Nov 10: The United States today hoped that the India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks next week would produce positive results and stressed the need for global cooperation against terrorism.

''We welcome the decision of both governments to hold talks directly. The Foreign Secretary-level talks are a very good thing. It shows that both are interested in dealing with issues directly,'' US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher told reporters here today.

Mr Boucher, who arrived here last night, met Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon this morning and discussed with him a ''broad range of issues'' including countering terrorism and instability in the region and matters concerning the neighbourhood, besides Indo-US relations.

Mr Boucher will also tour other countries in the region and return on November 17 to lead the US delegation at the Second Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan here on November 18-19.

He welcomed the setting up of the Joint Mechanism on Terrorism between India and Pakistan and said menace affected India, Pakistan as well as the US.

''We have a lot of common concerns,'' he said adding that there was, therefore, the need to fight it globally.

''You can't do it in just one place. We have to be able to do it everywhere.'' Affirming the presence of Al Qaeda in the region, as was revealed by developments in Afghanistan, Mr Boucher said their intention is to operate against those who fought against terrorism.

''It is very important that we stop the ability of the Taliban from disturbing the entire neighbourhood.'' Giving a clean chit to Pakistan, he said many such issues faced by India, were confronted by Pakistan as well.

Even the US faced the scourge and that was another sign that the problem needed to be deal with jointly and at all places.

Many terrorist groups have their origins in Pakistan Islamabad was determined to stop it and were using political and economic means to stop that problem.

''We are working with them. They are looking at a series of political and economic strategies and are determined to succeed,'' Mr Boucher added.

He declined to categorise Indo-Pak relations saying he did not have ''adjectives'' for that.

UNI