Washington: Observing that India has
legitimate concerns about what happens in the Af-Pak region,
Special US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard
Holbrooke has refuted claims that he is negotiating between
India and Pakistan.
"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.
PTI
