NEWS | U.S. NSA met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Officials

McMaster and Doval, have held detailed discussions on Indo-U.S. relations especially the security aspect of the current ties.

Various Sources

Image Attribute: Indian  PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with U.S. NSA HR McMaster during a meeting in New Delhi on April 18, 2017/ Source: Video Screengrab

United States National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt Gen HR McMaster's visit to India and Pakistan amid rising tension between the two countries, especially after the death sentencing of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court, points at an American intervention. 

While making a pit stop at Pakistan before visiting India, McMaster urged Islamabad to fight all terrorist groups equally and stop using some of them as proxies in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

H.R. McMaster held meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and military chief Qamar Javed Bajwa at which he "stressed the need to confront terrorism in all its forms," the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said on April 18.

"The U.S. hopes Pakistani leaders will understand that it is in their interest to go after terrorist groups less selectively than they have in the past," McMaster told Afghanistan's Tolonews before his visit to the south Asia region.

"The best way to pursue their interest in the country and elsewhere is through diplomacy, not through the use of proxies and engaging violence," McMaster said.

McMaster's visit was the first high-level interaction between the United States and Pakistan since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

Pakistani administration had welcomed Trump's willingness to help India and Pakistan resolve their differences, particularly over the disputed Kashmir region.

While in India, McMaster discussed the situation in Afghanistan during the meeting with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on April 18, where the White House is considering sending additional troops to help fight the Taliban.

"NSA McMaster emphasized the importance of the US-India strategic relationship and reaffirmed India's designation as a major defense Partner," a statement from the US embassy read. The two sides discussed a range of "bilateral and regional issues, including their shared interest in increasing defense and counterterrorism cooperation".

McMaster and Doval, have held detailed discussions on Indo-U.S. relations especially the security aspect of the current ties. During his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad, the US NSA had hinted that Washington could take a tougher stance on Pakistan, said sources.

Earlier this month, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said that the US administration was concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and wanted to see how it could de-escalate conflicts. The U.S. was going to "find its place to be a part of that (de-escalating tensions)", she said. However, India has rebuffed the U.S. offer to mediate.

Based on reporting by dpa, The Economic Times, NDTV and Radio Azadi