India should continue talks with Pakistan to resolve issues: US

Washington, July 25(ANI): The United States has asked India to remain engaged with Pakistan to bridge the trust deficit between both neighbours.

"We understand that there are difficult issues that will over time be a subject of that ongoing dialogue," The Daily Times quoted P.J. Crowley, U.S. State Department spokesman, as saying.

"However, we can certainly continue, as we always have, to encourage India to sit down, talk at high levels, engage in the issues that have created tensions between the two countries in the past," he added.

Crowley also said that Washington wants both New Delhi and Islamabad to work together to combat terrorism in the region.

"We certainly want to see both India and Pakistan cooperate together along with other countries in the region to combat terrorism, which is a threat to all of us," Crowley said.

"But ultimately, how this proceeds, at what pace - these are decisions to be made respectively by Pakistan and India," he added.

The spokesman also reaffirmed the Obama administration's promise to stay engaged in its war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

"The fact is we're not leaving Afghanistan or the region at the end of next year," Crowley said.

"Our commitment to regional security is a significant one. We are going to be engaged with countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India for a long time, because it is in our interest to do so," he added. (ANI)