Washington/New Delhi: The United States has said that it views its relationships with India and Pakistan individually and not as a ‘zero-sum game’.
"The United States views the relationship with Pakistan as not a zero-sum game with regard to India. We look at these relationships individually," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a news conference on Monday.
The issue was clarified by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter during his trip to India last month, Cook said.
"We have an interest and Pakistan has an interest in going after terrorist groups in that country. We've talked about it at length, and that is the focus of that security relationship with Pakistan," he said.
"At the same time, we have security interests with India that stand alone and stand apart," he said, adding that Carter feels very strongly that the relationship can be enhanced further.
"We have made significant strides in the last few years with regard to that, last few months, even. And he sees that continuing to build, and he does not see those two issues, if you will, not getting in the way of each other," Cook said.
More opportunities to expand Indo-US military cooperation: Pentagon
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, the Pentagon has said it is ‘looking forward’ to enhancing relations with India, and that there are opportunities to further expand military co-operation between the two countries.
“The (US Defence) Secretary (Ashton Carter) believes there are still opportunities for us to further expand the cooperation between the United States and India on military issues. They are issues of consequence for India, security issues that are of consequence to the United States,” Pentagon Press Secretary, Peter Cook said.
“We have shared security interests in that part of the world. And I think the Secretary is confident that the strong relationship we have right now will only build in the future, so,” Cook said in response to a question.
The Defence Secretary, he said, is “looking forward” to the visit of Prime Minister Modi in June.
“He met with the Prime Minister when he was in India, and looks forward to enhancing and building on that visit and the strong relationship that he has been able to maintain with Minister Parrikar since he took over as Secretary,” Cook said in response to a question.
Carter was in India in April, during which he held talks with his Indian counterpart, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and met the Prime Minister. Describing the trip as successful, Carter said there were some in-principle agreements reached at that time with regard to military-to-military relationship.
“I think the Secretary feels very good about where things are with regard to that relationship, and his relationship with Minister Parrikar. I think he sees this as an opportunity for future cooperation between the United States and India on military issues,” Cook said.
With PTI Inputs
