Not negotiating between India and Pakistan: Holbrooke

"Everyone understands that India has a legitimate concern for what happens in the region, but I am not negotiating issues between India and Pakistan," he said at Brookings Institute – a Washington-based think tank while commenting on reports that appeared in a section of Pakistani media that he was negotiating between the two countries.

"That's not my job, and nor is it something that would be productive if I were to undertake it," he said.

Holbrooke said he keeps India fully informed of his activities on a regular basis through the Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar. "She and I see each other frequently."
He said his job does not include India. "I am the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. I never sought to be the representative or envoy for India."

Terming India "a great country", he said "we have an excellent ambassador there, Tim Roemer, and he represents us. And we have a wide range of bilateral relationships which would not, under any circumstances, involve me."

Holbrooke stressed that relationship with India was important to the US, so do with Pakistan.