US urges India, Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue

Pak NSA Sartaj Aziz yesterday submitted to the American side three separate dossiers alleging Indian involvement in subversive activities

The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue to reduce tensions between them after Islamabad submitted three dossiers on India's alleged role in "subversive activities" in the country.

Amid Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's four-day visit to the US, Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz yesterday submitted to the American side three separate dossiers alleging Indian involvement in subversive activities.

After US Secretary of State John Kerry met Sharif here, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters, "We continue to believe that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from practical cooperation, and we encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions."

"The normalization of ties between Pakistan and India is vital to both countries and to the region, and steps that initiate closer regional trade and energy ties, we believe, will create jobs, lower inflation and increase energy supply," he said.

Kirby, however, said he was unaware of the dossiers. "I'm not aware that we have (the dossiers)," he responded to a question.

Sharif in his meeting with Kerry yesterday briefed him about the "destabilising role of Indian agencies in FATA, Balochistan and Karachi", said a statement issued by the Pakistan government here.