US supports direct talks between India, Pakistan: State Dept

The State Department reaffirmed its support for direct talks between Pakistan and India, emphasizing that the specifics of such negotiations should be decided by the two countries themselves. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated this stance in response to a question about recent exchanges between Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Miller highlighted the US's important relationships with both nations and emphasized that the character and pace of any discussions should be determined by India and Pakistan, not the US.

The interaction between the leaders of Pakistan and India followed Modi's securing of a third term as Prime Minister. PM Shehbaz congratulated Modi on his re-election on June 10, to which Modi responded with thanks. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also congratulated Modi, advocating for a shift from hostility to hope and emphasizing the potential to positively influence the lives of the two billion people in South Asia. Modi, in turn, emphasized India's commitment to peace, security, and progressive ideals, reiterating the priority of advancing the well-being and security of the people.

In the same briefing, Miller addressed the topic of regional security and terrorism. He noted the shared interest of the US and Pakistan in combating threats to regional stability. The US partners with Pakistan on security through high-level counterterrorism dialogue and various capacity-building programs. Responding to a query about Pakistani Ambassador to the US Masood Khan’s call for modern American weapons to fight the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Miller confirmed ongoing communication with Pakistani leaders on counterterrorism issues, highlighting the continuous US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements and annual counterterrorism dialogue as key components of their collaborative efforts.