US rejects Pak' s request for mediation on J&K

Washington, Mar 25: US on Thursday, Mar 25 dismissed Pakistan's request for mediation on the Kashmir issue with India, stating that US cannot interfere in the foreign policy of any of the two South Asian countries.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Washington encourages dialogue between India and Pakistan but it cannot dictate in their foreign policy.

Clinton and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi headed the first Cabinet-level 'Strategic Dialogue" between the two countries.

"We can"t dictate Pakistani foreign policy or Indian foreign policy, but we can encourage, as we do, the in-depth discussion between both countries that we think would benefit each of them with respect to security and development," Clinton said.

Asked by a Pakistani journalist as to why United States was not playing a constructive role in resolving the issues of concern for the people of Pakistan with India, Clinton said that US was encouraging dialogue between the countries.

"I think it"s important to recognise that the US has positive relationships with both Pakistan and India, and we certainly encourage dialogue between India and Pakistan," she said.

During the dialogue, Qureshi had sought a constructive engagement of US to promote the process of peaceful resolution of all South Asian disputes, including Kashmir.

Citing full cooperation to Pakistan, Clinton said that the resolving the issues between India and Pakistan would certainly be in everyone"s best interest.

"I want to just underscore that our goal in the Obama administration is to make clear that we are going to be a partner with Pakistan on a full range of matters," she added.

OneIndia News