US keen to see India, Pak reach 'stable' relationship: Blake

I / Chicago February 20, 2010, 13:43 IST

As India and Pakistan prepare for Foreign Secretary-level talks in Delhi next week, the US has said it is keen to see the two countries reach a "stable" relationship on their own terms at the appropriate time.

"While we would like to see India and Pakistan reach a stable relationship, they will do so on their terms at the appropriate time," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs yesterday.

His comments come ahead of the February 25 talks between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir during which India is expected to focus on the issue of terrorism.

Terming counter-terrorism as a "critical component" of the strategic cooperation framework between India and the US, Blake said "our two countries cooperate more and more, particularly since the horrific November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which the Indians refer to as '26/11'".

He said Home Minister P Chidambaram's "highly successful" US visit last year underscored the breadth of the still-expanding cooperation on this crucial issue.

On the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Blake said, "A few more steps are still required, and we expect them to be completed in the next few months."

"This (the deal) has the potential to lead to billions of dollars worth of opportunities for American companies and many thousands of jobs as a result of that."