WASHINGTON: Although titled US-India Strategic Dialogue, the talks held in Washington this week also focused on New Delhi’s relations with Pakistan, said a senior US official. “It’s a part of the dialogue in the sense that we’re always interested in seeing if peace can be enhanced between these two very important partners of the United States,” said Assistant Secretary Robert Blake. Mr Blake, who looks after South Asian affairs at the State Department, however, noted that the US had always believed it was up to India and Pakistan themselves to resolve their differences. Determining “the pace, scope and character of their dialogue” was also ‘completely’ up to the two countries. “We are more in the mode of just encouraging peace on both sides and encouraging both sides to address each other’s concerns as much as possible.” Mr Blake’s statement, included in a transcript the State Department released on Friday, reflected the traditional US policy on this issue, which actively encourages both countries to settle their disputes through negotiations but refuses to take a public position. The US reluctance is linked to India’s stance as well, which rejects any outside mediation in its dealings with Pakistan. But this makes it difficult for friendly states to help reduce tensions between South Asia’s two neighbouring nuclear states. In deference to New Delhi’s desire, the US also refuses to take a public position on the Kashmir dispute, which has plagued relations between India and Pakistan for more than 60 years. “I don’t think Kashmir is really the question that’s on the table now,” said Mr Blake when asked what the US could do to help the two sides resolve the Kashmir dispute. “The real question right now is to first get some progress on the trial of the Mumbai suspects, those who are already in custody in Pakistan,” he said. “And also from the Indian perspective to see progress by Pakistan on stopping actions by Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Punjab-based terrorist groups against India.” These two, he said, were “really the redlines” for re-establishing the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan. And since this also endorsed the Indian policy on this particular issue, Mr Blake was not reluctant in offering US assistance for realising the two objectives. “Those are areas where I think we can help and encourage our Pakistani friends to move forward, and indeed we have,” he said. The US official also rejected the suggestion that India was worried Washington might sacrifice New Delhi’s interests as it sought Pakistan’s help in Afghanistan. “I don’t think India really is worried about that,” he said. “We’ve had extensive talks with our Indian friends, not only during the course of this strategic dialogue but previously.”