The Former United States White House official said Washington supported India’s right to self-defence after the Pakistani military attacked India’s fighter jets. The United States Secretary urged both India and Pakistan to not take any action that would escalate the current conflict.
Why is India Worried With Resignation of US Secretary of Defence – James Mattis?
While referring to a recent statement on Pulwama attack by US National Security Adviser John Bolton who said, “the United States support(s) India’s right to self-defence”, Shamila N. Chaudhary, the former director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House National Security Council said: “After the Pakistani military shot down two Indian Air Force planes and captured an Indian pilot, the United States walked back its rhetoric of self-defence.”
Shamila was quoted by the congressional newspaper saying, ” after Pakistan brought down the IAF planes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged both countries to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost”. Pompeo’s appeal to India and Pakistan to defuse the situation was supported by several US lawmakers. “Pakistan’s repatriation of Wing Commander Abhinandan to India is a good first step toward enabling meaningful dialogue to resolve this conflict,” said Congressman Eliot L. Engel, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said: “past Republican and Democratic administrations have played constructive roles at the highest levels to promote peace and stability in South Asia. I urge Islamabad and New Delhi to immediately engage in dialogue to de-escalate the tensions.”
United States Secretary Pompeo informed journalists saying, “he spent a good deal of time” talking to Pakistani and Indian leaders, encouraging each country to not take any action that would escalate and create increased risk”.
On the other side, Alyssa Ayres, a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia said: “I don’t think the United States has the type of clout it might’ve had 35 years ago. But you have seen a consensus among the powers around the world all echoing each other to create that kind of echo chamber about the kind of actions Pakistan should take.”
“India and Pakistan needed to work on two crucial problems: large military deployments in India-held Kashmir and the presence of militant groups in Pakistan”, said the former US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter.
More News at EurAsian Times
- Indian Military Base in Sabang can Strangle China at the Strait of Malacca
- Why is Japan Unhappy with Bullet Train Project in India?
- Is Saudi-UAE Alliance Working to Weaken the Gulf Cooperation Council?
- India-Japan Defence Partnership Aggressively Countering China
- Oman-UAE Relations Deteriorate; Muscat Warns Against Testing Patience
