US can help: Pak

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has welcomed the US offer to help de-escalate tensions with India, saying “any positive role” America plays to bring peace and stability in South Asia can serve the region well, according to a media report on Wednesday.

Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s envoy to Washington, termed US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley’s remarks on Monday as positive.

Chaudhry said Pakistan is interested in such efforts because it “wants good neighbourly relations with India”.

Pakistan’s support for a thirdparty mediation comes after India rejected on Tuesday any role for the US. India said its position for bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues “in an environment free of terror and violence hasn’t changed”.

India has ruled out thirdparty mediation, including by the UN or the US, and maintained that Kashmir was a bilateral issue.

despite Haley’s remarks.

Was she taking a contrary position on India as well, then?

The Trump administration has let India know the President had no intention of involving himself into the conflict as a mediator , according to officials in New Delhi .

India first raised the issue with the new administration in January after Trump, then president-elect, was seen to be signalling a desire to mediate in a call with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.