Washington - The United States expressed its endorsement of a direct dialogue between India and Pakistan regarding pressing issues. Responding to an inquiry during a regular State Department press briefing, official spokesperson Matthew Miller affirmed, "As we have long said, we support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of concern. That has long been our position." This response was prompted by a question concerning the recent statement from Pakistan's Prime Minister regarding a willingness to engage in talks with India.

During the inauguration of the Mineral Summit in Islamabad on Monday, Shehbaz Sharif conveyed the nation's readiness to engage in discussions with neighboring countries for the purpose of national development. Despite a history of strained relations between India and Pakistan since their respective independences in 1947, the Pakistani Prime Minister is aiming to foster constructive engagement.

Sharif underscored the counterproductive nature of conflict and advocated for economic competition within the region instead. He emphasized that resorting to war generates poverty, unemployment, and resource shortages that hinder critical sectors like education, healthcare, and overall well-being. Stressing the futility of armed confrontation, Sharif highlighted Pakistan's status as a nuclear power, asserting that war is not an option due to its catastrophic potential.

The Prime Minister emphasized that achieving normalized relations necessitates addressing significant issues through peaceful and meaningful dialogue. He acknowledged that both nations cannot truly be considered normal neighbors until existing abnormalities are addressed and substantive problems are tackled through diplomatic means.

The India-Pakistan relationship has been characterized by ongoing tensions since the creation of Pakistan. India has consistently raised concerns over Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism and maintained the stance that terrorism and diplomatic discussions cannot coexist.

In the aftermath of India's decision in August 2019 to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status and reorganize it into two Union territories, Pakistan, led by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, expelled India's ambassador to Islamabad and suspended bilateral trade.