US aims to ease India-Pakistan tension

Washington, Apr 5(ANI): United States President Barack Obama has reportedly issued a secret directive to its top foreign-policy and national-security officials to intensify their efforts aimed at easing tensions between India and Pakistan.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the directive was summarized in a memo written by National Security Adviser James Jones at the end of the White House's three-month review of Afghan war policy in December.

In the directive it is stated that India must make resolving its tensions with Pakistan a priority for progress to be made on US goals in the region.

A debate continues within the administration over how hard to push India, which has long resisted outside intervention in the conflict with Pakistan.

Current and former US officials said the discussion in Washington over how to approach India has intensified as Pakistan ratchets up requests that the US intercede in a series of continuing disputes, The News reports. (ANI)