Hillarysworld

Read @ IndianExpress.com

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US can't dictate foreign policy to India: Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made it clear that Washington has no intention to mediate between India and Pakistan, contending that it can only encourage not "dictate" foreign policy of other nations.

Addressing a joint press briefing with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi after today's round of the strategic dialogue, Clinton however said the resolution of issues between India and Pakistan would be in everyone's interest.

"I think its very important to recognise that the United States has positive relationship with with both Pakistan and India, and we certainly encourage the dialogue.

"... Now we can't dictate Pakistan 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 develop," she said responding to a question on US' role vis a vis Indo-Pak relations.

While Clinton promised Pakistan help in the energy sector, including in building thermal power plants, but there was no mention in the briefing of a civil nuclear deal which Islamabad has been pressing for.

Qureshi said Islamabad respected India's ties with the US but these should not be at the cost of Pakistan and pointed out that US' long-term interest lies east of Afghanistan.

"As far as India is concerned, they are a sovereign country, they have bilateral relations and we respect that. But all we are saying is that those relations should not be at the cost of Pakistan, and we are very clear on this.

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I had to bring this fantastic reader comment.

By: Shah P.A. | Thursday , 25 Mar '10 13:06:21 PM Reply | Forward
This is pathetic and laughable. Pakistan was asking for Nuclear technology and US gives it Thermal Power Plants !! Technology that is at least one century old. Hope the pakis get the hint and get on with building their nation instead of frothing and fuming.

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-- Edited by Sanders on Thursday 25th of March 2010 01:20:06 PM