US discusses ‘managing responsible India ties’
ANTONY BLINKEN, the US secretary of state, said late on Monday (26) that he had discussed with his Pakistani counterpart what he called “managing a responsible relationship with India”.
Blinken’s comments came after India’s defence and foreign ministers opposed a US decision to provide a support package of about $450 million (£418m) for Pakistan’s fleet of US-made F-16 fighter jets.
“In our discussions today, we talked about the importance of managing a
responsible relationship with India,” Blinken said after meeting Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, without giving further details.
Asked about the F-16 deal, Ned Price, the US State Department spokesperson said his country had independent relations with India and Pakistan.
“The relationship we have with India stands on its own. The relationship we have with Pakistan stands on its own,” Price told a news conference.
“We also want to do everything we can to see to it that these neighbours have relations with one another that are as constructive as can be possible.”
Talks have stalled between the neighbours, with India launching airstrikes in February 2019 in response to a deadly attack blamed on Pakistanbacked militants.
Blinken was due to meet India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on Tuesday (27), as Eastern Eye went to press.
In a meeting on Monday with Indian Americans in Washington DC, Jaishankar said America’s relationship with Pakistan has “not served” either of the two countries.
“Very honestly, it’s a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well, nor serving American interests. So, it is really for the United States today to reflect on what are the merits of this relationship and what do they get by it,” the minister said in response to a question.
Referring to the US F-16 deal, Jaishankar said, “You are not fooling anybody by saying these things”.
India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh had expressed concern about the F-16 package to Pakistan during a call with US defense secretary Lloyd Austin.