Washington, October 12

Supporting India’s “right to self-defence” in the aftermath of the Uri attack which it dubbed a “clear case of cross-border terrorism”, the US today dismissed the recent attempt by Pakistan to link peace in war-torn Afghanistan with resolution of the Kashmir issue.The White House backed India’s right to defend itself as with any other country, in view of the recent surgical strike but advised caution given the heavy militarisation between the two neighbours.It also said the US was making every effort to ensure that India became a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by the end of this year. Making a rare appearance before a Washington audience, Peter Lavoy, the White House’s point person for South Asia, said the India-US ties were the “most dynamic relationship” for the US as he listed the Obama administration’s achievements in strengthening the relationship between the two largest democracies of the world.“It (Uri) was a clear case of cross-border terrorism. But in a heavily militarised relationship that has also experienced three wars, there is indeed a need for caution and restraint,” he said.“We share with India, the concern for preventing any future attack,” Lavoy said.Last week, Lavoy met the two special envoys of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Kashmir. The two Pakistani envoys in their public meetings had linked peace in Afghanistan to resolving the Kashmir issue. “We certainly do not believe that the situation in Afghanistan is linked with Kashmir,” he said.Lavoy said the US is making every effort to ens
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