Pak, US discuss Kashmir, LoC tensions

Pakistan and the US have discussed the regional situation, including Kashmir and the escalation of tensions at the Indo-Pak border, with Washington calling for a dialogue to resolve issues.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between Special Assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister (SAPM) Syed Tariq Fatemi and Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken here, a Pakistan Embassy statement said.

"The regional situation including the escalation across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary were discussed during the meeting. The SAPM briefed the Deputy Secretary on the frequency of ceasefire violations by India in recent weeks with particular reference to targeting of civilians across the LoC," the statement said.

Fatemi also accused India of "human rights violations" in Kashmir which he claimed had resulted in "hundreds of casualties and debilitating injuries to the civilians including women and children".

"While expressing concern on the increasing escalation at the LoC, Deputy Secretary Blinken reiterated the US position on the need for reducing tension in South Asia and promoting closer cooperation and dialogue between the two largest countries of the region," the statement said.

During the meeting, Fatemi asserted that Pakistan would be forthcoming in cooperating with new Donald Trump administration, in achieving peace in Afghanistan and improving Indo-Pak relationship for the sake of peace in the region, it said.

Fatemi expressed hope that after the completion of ongoing transition process, the two sides would resume their regular engagement on the bilateral track.

"The two sides expressed satisfaction on several achievements in areas of peace and security, counter terrorism, defence and economic cooperation. It was agreed that Pakistan-US relationship was important to regional as well as global peace and security and should continue to be strengthened under the next Administration," the statement said.

Meanwhile, talking about the meeting, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner, said, "They discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including regional stability and counter-terrorism cooperation."

Fatemi, who is on a US visit, also interacted with mainstream US print and electronic media at the Pakistan Embassy on Monday.

Fatemi apprised the media that he is currently visiting US to have interaction with the current US Administration and to reach out to the officials likely to join the new administration following the recent US Presidential election.

Fatemi stated that Pakistan was looking forward to working closely with the new US Administration and wanted the bilateral relations to be further strengthened in future.