New Delhi, November 18
New Delhi today reacted sharply to the US attempt to give a monitoring role to China in South Asia, making it clear once again that there was no room for third-party mediation in resolving issues between India and Pakistan.
“The Government of India is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through a peaceful bilateral dialogue in accordance with the Simla agreement,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said.
“A third country role cannot be envisaged nor is it necessary,” he said when asked for India’s reaction to the US-China joint statement issued during President Barack Obama’s visit to Beijing that has led to concerns in India about Washington wanting to give a role to China in bilateral issues between India and Pakistan.
The spokesman emphasised that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan was not possible without addressing the threat of cross-border terror. “We believe that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can take place only in an environment free from terror or the threat of terror.”
The US and China “support the efforts of Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight terrorism, maintain domestic stability and achieve sustainable economic and social development, and support the improvement and growth of relations between India and Pakistan”, the joint statement issued by the two countries yesterday had said.
The two countries have agreed to work together to bring about stable and peaceful relations in the entire South Asia, Obama said at a joint briefing with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The statement has obviously not been taken kindly by India, coming as it does just days before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh goes to Washington as the Obama administration’s first state guest.
US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer, however, defended the US-China joint statement, describing it as ‘positive’.
At a press conference here, he tried to do the balancing act saying Washington was trying to ensure a prosperous and peaceful rise of China, while at the same time it had historic and close relations with India.
