Disappointed US wants India, Pakistan to resume talks soon

Washington, Aug 25: Expressing disappointment over the cancellation of NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan, the US has said it would just encourage the two countries to resume a formal dialogue soon. "We were encouraged by the early constructive interaction between the leaders of India and Pakistan earlier this year," in Russia, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday. "We're disappointed that the talks didn't happen," he said. "We just encourage India and Pakistan to resume a formal dialogue soon." Scheduled talks between National Security Advisers Sartaj Aziz of Pakistan and Ajit Doval of India were called off over Islamabad's insistence on raising Kashmir and meeting Pakistani separatist leaders instead of focusing on terrorism as India wanted. "As we've said, the issues are important; we recognize that. The tensions in the region are significant; we recognize that," Kitby said. "And we believe it's important for leaders of both countries to resume this dialogue and discussion and to try to come to some resolution," he said. Asked about the possibility of talks between Secretary of State John Kerry and his Indian and Pakistani counterparts during the UN General Assembly session next month, Kirby declined to give a definitive answer.