While declining comment on India’s surgical strike on militants in Myanmar, the US has asked India and Pakistan to take steps to reduce tensions and move toward resuming dialogue according to a report in the Times of India on 13 June.
"I don't have a comment on that specific operation," US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke told reporters on Friday when asked if the US supported or was concerned over India's cross border strike in Myanmar, a move that has raised hackles in Pakistan.
But "we encourage India and Pakistan to take steps to reduce tensions and to move towards resuming talks," he said.
"The relationship between India and Pakistan is critical to advancing peace and stability in South Asia, so we welcome any steps India and Pakistan can take to reduce tensions and move toward resuming dialogue," Rathke said.
"We encourage India and Pakistan to take those kinds of steps, and we believe that India and Pakistan each have a mutual interest in addressing the threat posed by violent extremism and terrorism," he said.
Asked if the US had reached out officially to India or Pakistan to defuse tensions over the Myanmar strike, Rathkesaid: "Well, we've encouraged a reduction of tensions on both sides at high levels, so that's something we've mentioned."