India, Pak should continue dialogue to address concerns: US

From Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 27 (PTI) India and Pakistan shouldcontinue a dialogue process to address their differences andissues, including Kashmir, the US has said as it asked the twonations to refrain from indulging in rhetoric. "What I would say that the extent to which both countriesare seeking to continue a dialogue process that will do moreto address concerns and tensions than perhaps otherapproaches. So I would just say that it is our hope and ourcounsel to (the two) continue to push forward on a process oftalks between the two governments to try to address concerns,"a senior State Department official said. The United States, the official noted, has also said thatwith respect to the issues emanating from Kashmir, that itbelieves that this is something that the two countries need todetermine through the dialogue. "Nothing has changed in terms of the US position andperspective on that and we do encourage the two countries tocontinue the dialogue process that allows them to processareas of concerns in both countries," the official said inresponse to a question. In an apparent reference to the war of words between thetwo countries, the official cautioned against indulging inrhetoric. "I think, when you start going into a situation wherethere is rhetoric that flies that is rarely going to beconducive to push forward a dialogue process," the officialsaid. "At the same time, we have understood and the concerns andfrustrations that has been expressed with respect toterrorism. "We have been very firm in our statements, public andprivate that there has to be actions against terrorist groupswherever they may operate there cannot be a safe haven forterrorist groups and that there cannot be any distinctionmade. We have urged for robust cooperation to try toaddress those concerns," said the senior State Departmentofficial. PTI LKJNSA