Posted by New Delhi: The US has urged India and Pakistan to seek resolution of issues through dialogues. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Tuesday said that the both the neighbours must avoid any escalation.
Miller’s remarks came in response to a question about reported statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on crossing borders to kill terrorists recently.
Miller said the US would not involve itself on the matter but “encouraged India and Pakistan to avoid any escalation and find a resolution through dialogue”.
What US said on PM Modi and Rajnath Singh remarks on killing terrorists?
When asked if PM Modi and Rajnath Singh’s comments can be seen as ‘confessions’ on the alleged “assassination of (Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh) Nijjar in Canada, (designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh) Pannu’s murder-for-hire plot in New York, and killings in Pakistan”, Miller said the US will not get involved in the matter.
“The United States is not going to get into the middle of this, but we do encourage both India and Pakistan to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue,” said Miller.
To a question on why the US has not considered sanctions on India over the matter, Miller said, “I am never going to preview any sanctions actions, which is not to say that there are any coming. But when you ask me to talk about sanctions, it’s something that we don’t discuss openly.”
‘Ghar me ghus ke marenge’: PM Modi and Rajnath Singh warned terrorists
Earlier this month, Singh, referring to New Delhi’s assertive approach to dealing with cross-border terrorism, had said if terrorists try to disturb peace in India or carry out terror activities, a befitting response will be given, and if they run away to Pakistan, India will enter the neighbouring country to kill them.
The defence minister was responding to a question on a report by British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ that claimed Indian intelligence agencies carried out assassinations of terrorists in Pakistan as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019.
PM Modi too had made similar comments in the context of stern action against cross-border terrorism.