WASHINGTON - The United States is of the view that no 'Great Game' being played out in South Asia with the simultaneously ongoing US-India and Russia-Pakistan joint military exercises, according to a State Department spokesman.
The State Department comments came amid growing bilateral ties between Cold War era estrangers -- US and India on the one hand and Russia and Pakistan on the other hand -- have led to speculations about new regional alignments taking place in the strategic region.
But State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at the daily Press briefing that US has close cooperative relationships with both India and Pakistan, the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbours currently locked in a war of words over the killings in Held Kashmir.
“Well, if the insinuation is that there’s some kind of tit-for-tat or Great Game being played out here, that’s not at all the case. Look, we’ve long said with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there’s no zero-sum game here.” he noted, when asked about the two ongoing military exercises in India and Pakistan.
("The Great Game" is a term used to describe a political and diplomatic confrontation that existed for most of the 19th century between Britain and Russia over Afghanistan and neighbouring territories in Central and Southern Asia.)
Continuing his response to the question from an Indian journalist, Toner cited US relations with both New Delhi and Islamabad.
“We are pursuing very close relations with India. We have a deep and broad bilateral relationship and multilateral relationship, but – or work our multilateral issues with India. They are the world’s largest democracy and we share, I think, a very similar vision of the world. And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation.
“Similarly, with Pakistan, we want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses both domestically for Pakistan but also the fact that there are terrorist groups on – that seek refuge or asylum or shelter in Pakistan’s territory.”
The spokesman discounted the possibility of an Indian-American campaign ending up as getting Pakistan declared a state sponsor of terror – an allegation being echoed by India every day amid deteriorating situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, where more than 100 civilian protestors have been killed in New Delhi’s reaction to anti-India demonstrations.Instead, Toner reminded the questioner of the serious Pakistani counteterterrorism efforts.
“Well, look, that’s a very specific process and determination that involves a legal process and assessment. Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability, as I just said, to deal with a terrorist threat on their soil. They’re fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism. We do believe that they’re making progress, that they’re taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we’ve been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan’s neighbours, and close all safe havens.”
About the heightened tensions in South Asia, Toner reiterated US call for India and Pakistan to engage in a dialogue for to normalise their ties.
He said the long-standing position of the US is that India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relation and practical cooperation between them. “And we encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week addressed the UN General Assembly and asked India to put an end to brutalities in the Held Kashmir.
He also said that the decades-old issue was the root cause of tension in the region.