India, Pak should engage in direct dialogue: US

Washington, Apr 8: The US today asked both India and Pakistan to engage in "direct dialogue" aimed at reducing tensions, on a day when Islamabad announced suspension of the bilateral peace process with New Delhi.

"Our longstanding position is that we believe India and Pakistan stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations and practical cooperation. We encourage India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions," a State Department spokesman said.

The spokesman was responding to a question on the remarks of Pakistan's Ambassador to India Abdul Basit in New Delhi earlier today wherein he had said that the talks between the two countries stand "suspended".

"The United States strongly supports all efforts between India and Pakistan that can contribute to a more stable, democratic, and prosperous region, but this is an issue that must be determined by the two sides," the spokesman said.

PTI