The US on Thursday said it would like to see dialogue between India and Pakistan, but added that it was for the two countries to decide on how and when to resume talks. At the same time, it also asked for resolution of the Kashmir issue keeping in view the “wishes” of the people of the Valley.

After meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, visiting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J Burns said, “The issue of Pakistan came up in many conversations in the last two days and we welcome dialogue between India and Pakistan, but the pace, scope and the character of that dialogue is something for the Indian and Pakistani leaders. They have to decide on how and when to approach that dialogue.”

The statement by Burns, who also met NSA M K Narayanan and Leader of Opposition L K Advani, is a reflection of Washington reconciling its desire for resumption of India-Pakistan talks with India’s views. New Delhi has always maintained that talks cannot resume unless an environment, free of terror and violence, is created.

In response to a question on Kashmir, Burns said, “It remains our view that the resolution of the Kashmir issue has to take into account wishes of Kashmiri people.”

Burns said he handed over a letter from President Obama to PM Manmohan Singh, and though he refused to divulge its content, he added that the “new US administration is committed to broaden and deepen ties with India more than we have today and determined to take it to next phase”.

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