Kerry’s two-day trip to Delhi also includes a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Wednesday, reported NDTV and added that the focus of Kerry’s visit includes pushing for “better military cooperation” and increasing trade between India and the US. “And at a time when countries all too often seek to settle disputes through unilateral action or use a force, we together chose a different route; we have agreed to work through rule of law through the norms of the worldwide community”.
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Kerry said there can not be distinction between good and bad terrorists as terror is terror no matter where it emanates from or who carries it out.
India has provided a little over $2 billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan in the last 15 years and said recently it would deliver more arms to Afghanistan.
Kerry arrived here on August 29 to co-chair the 2nd India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue during which the two sides discussed key issues including terrorism emanating from Pakistan. They discussed progress in bilateral engagement since the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States in June 2016.
Ahead of the US-India-Afghanistan trilateral talks scheduled at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September, Washington said it wanted New Delhi to continue its constructive role in Afghanistan.
Explaining the decision to withhold $300 million in Coalition Support Funds, Kirby said that these decisions were based on “active, fluid, dynamic conversations” that they had with Pakistani leaders.
“We have to build bridges of tolerance and acceptance, compassion, mutual understanding among every religion and sect”, he said, observing that a society, which does not give equal opportunities to its citizens, makes them potential extremists or terrorists. And so we have discussed yesterday how India’s decision to accept an worldwide tribunal judgment regarding its maritime border with Bangladesh actually stands apart from other choices made by other countries. Kerry came to her aid, picking up a binder she had dropped, and steadying her as they made their way into the meeting. Criticizing Indian Prime Minister Narendera Modi, he said Modi tried to divert the attention from Kashmir by hurling baseless accusations on Gilgit Baltistan and Balochistan.
At the same time, he chose the platform to send out a strong message to China asking it to abide by an global tribunal’s decision on claims to some reefs and atolls in the South China Sea, citing India as an example.
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In a joint statement issued Tuesday the United States and India reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation in and over the South China Sea.
