Clear that Modi wants peace with Pak, but not at security cost: US official

Ahead of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's maiden visit to India and Pakistan next week, a top Trump administration official has said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot "pursue peace" with Pakistan in a way that "cuts his own security", asserting that it is in the interest of Islamabad to build confidence with New Delhi to restart commercial ties.

The official, with an insight into the administration's policy over South Asia, was responding to questions on what India could do to bring peace and stability in the region, in particular with Pakistan.

"It's clear to everyone that Prime Minister Modi wants peace in the region, but he can't pursue peace (with Pakistan) in a way that cuts against his own security. So that (having peace talks with Pakistan) is up to his judgement," the official, requesting anonymity, told PTI on Friday.

"We want India and Pakistan to talk. We think that is so important for them to talk and to build confidence and to get on a path to regional security and stability which we know would bring both countries to unprecedented levels of prosperity," he said.

PTI