US downplays omission of Indo-Pak in joint statement

The United States has downplayed the omission of any reference to South Asia or to India and Pakistan in the US-China joint statement released in Washington DC on Wednesday. State Department spokesman P J Crowley denied that the omission reflected any change in US policy, or any particular sensitivity to India’s concerns. The joint statement was issued after talks between US President Barack Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao, who is on a state visit to the United States.

The last joint statement issued by the two countries after Presidents Obama and Hu met in Beijing in November 2009 had implied a role for China in South Asia.

However, when asked by Business Standard if the omissions in Wednesday’s joint statement reflected any change in the Obama administration’s thinking, and whether it was in response to the concerns expressed by India following the 2009 joint statement, Crowley denied this was the case. Speaking at a briefing via videoconference from Washington DC, Crowley said: “No, there’s no change in the US policy. I think it’s a manifestation of the nature of our discussions here and the work we have ongoing with China. But no, I wouldn’t read anything else into it.”

The 2009 joint statement had noted that the US and China were “ready to strengthen communication, dialogue and cooperation on issues related to South Asia and work together to promote peace, stability and development in that region”. The Indian government had been unhappy with the statement, which also said the US and China “support the improvement and growth of relations between India and Pakistan”.

In a pointed response to that joint statement, the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs had said on November 18, 2009: “The government of India is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through a peaceful bilateral dialogue in accordance with the Simla Agreement. A third country role cannot be envisaged nor is it necessary. We also believe that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can take place only in an environment free from terror or the threat of terror.”

This week’s US-China joint statement refers to the Asia-Pacific region, and also to some current hot spots including North Korea, Taiwan, Iran and Sudan, but leaves out the 2009 references to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and South Asia.

But the joint statement issued on January 19 also notes that “The Presidents further reaffirmed their commitment to the November 2009 US-China Joint Statement.”