Washington: Describing India as its "strong"
ally, the United States has said both New Delhi and Islamabad
should move beyond the stereotype rivalry against each other
and concentrate on how to fight terrorism, poverty and other
challenges being faced by the people in the region.
"We have a very strong and growing partnership with
India. We have a partnership with Pakistan that we're trying
to improve on. We need to get away from these views of if we
are a supporter or we have a good relationship with India,
that impacts the relationship with Pakistan," State Department
Deputy spokesman Robert Wood said at his daily press briefing.
Wood was responding to questions about growing anxiety
among the people of Pakistan because of the strengthening
relationship between India and the US.
"I understand that that is how people in the region see
it, but I think we really need to move away from this type of
view in the 21st century," Wood said, adding that the people
of the region have some very difficult challenges to face.
"We are doing what we can to try to support them as they
confront these challenges, not only from terrorism but from
poverty, illiteracy, drought, disease," he said.
The US would continue to work with India, Pakistan and
other countries to deal with these challenges.
"But we have to move away from these old stereotypes and
work with one another in the 21st century to defeat these
common enemies that we do face, as I said - drought, disease,
hunger, illiteracy, poverty, terrorism," Wood said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 09:36
