Pakistan has to take "sustained & irreversible actions" on terror: US

Putting onus of peace talks in Pakistan, a senior US official said that Islamab has to take "sustained and irreversible actions" against terror outfits refuged in country. senior US official reiterated US President Donald Trump's willingness to mediate Kashmir conflict between two countries, only with consent of both nations. 

India has t only maintained that Kashmir is an internal issue rejecting a third-party mediation, offered by Donald Trump in past and UN, but also refused to hold a dialogue with neighbour Pakistan, citing terror and talks cant go parallel. State Department official said US will continue to encour an atmosphere that allows for constructive Indo-Pak dialogue.

Trump has expressed his concern over level of tension between India and Pakistan. And he discussed Kashmir directly in his meetings with Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan, official said on condition of anymity. "He (Trump) certainly is prepared to play a mediation role, if both countries ask. It has been India's position t to seek outside mediation," official said.

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If President is asked to mediate by both countries, he has expressed his willingness and his interests to help facilitate a solution, official told a group of reporters when pressed furr. India has been quite clear in Prime Minister Modi's office saying that y are t seeking mediation, official said. However, official said it does t mean that US is t actively encouraging dialogue to take place and that an atmosphere for constructive dialogue between two countries is established.

onus for peace talks between India and Pakistan lies on Islamab by taking sustained and irreversible actions against terrorist groups, according to official.

official termed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Kartarpur Corridor a welcome confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan which will help increase people-to-people contact. India and Pakistan on Thursday signed historic agreement on Kartarpur corridor that will allow Indian pilgrims to undertake a visa-free visit to shrine of Sikh religion's founder Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan. "While it's a small step, we need more like this to also create will, goodwill and environment for constructive dialogue," official said.

Asked if US supports India's position that "talks and terror cant go toger", official said it is important that Pakistan take "sustainable and irreversible steps against terrorism." It is also possible to have a dialogue and United States encours countries to eng as two nuclear powers living side by side, official said.

"When you have two nuclear powers... it is important that your all avenues be explored to increase contact and communication between two sides, official said, ding that President Trump is engd with leers of both countries.

LoC

On Tuesday, Pakistan flew group of foreign diplomats to PoK to spur a narrative that Indian Army was resorting to unprovoked firing in civilian areas.  diplomats were taken to area two days after Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that six to ten Pakistan Army personnel were killed and three terror camps were destroyed in retaliatory action by Indian Army opposite Tangdhar and Keran sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. However, expectedly, Pakistan denying claims said that terror camps were destroyed. 

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Indian Army in an anti-terror operation struck several terror camps in PoK on Monday, according to top sources. As per inputs, strike wiped out several terrorists, leaving neighbour in a disarray.  strike was reportedly carried out after 7 Pakistani SSG commandos were trying to infiltrate in Tangdhar sector to carry out a Border Action Team (BAT) strike but were neutralised, with ir bodies lying unclaimed approximately 300 m inside Pakistan side of LoC.

Pakistan has maintained heat across Line of Control (LoC) with repeated ceasefire violations. Days ago, Pakistan unprovoked ceasefire violation across LoC in Kashmir's Poonch sector targetted civilians, including children who were left stranded within school premises. 

(With PTI inputs)