The United States has refused to be publicly drawn into the war of words between India and Pakistan on the "evidence of involvement" in the Mumbai blasts, but said that it is in touch with New Delhi over the sensitive issue.
Speaking on the challenges of terrorism and the threats faced by the US and its friends, top state department official Nicholas Burns also said that Washington wants to augment counter-terrorism co-operation with New Delhi and has an obligation to help India in preventing terror attacks, PTI said.
On the Mumbai blasts, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said: "I don't think it would be proper for me to share publicly any information coming from us on such a sensitive issue."
"Secondly, the US has a self-interest and obligation to help India to prevent terrorist attacks if it can do that, and also to be a partner with India in the fight against terrorism, just as we are a partner with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism," he said.
Burns, who will lead a high-level delegation to India next month, said: "When I go to Delhi, I want to talk to people who are experts on counter-terrorism because we want to upgrade our conversations with the Indian government."
"But I think in the cases of these new charges going back and forth, I don't think its appropriate for the US to get involved publicly because we have two friends in the regions, different relationships but two friends, and our counter-terrorism agenda with Pakistan is fundamentally important to us and we appreciate the support President Pervez Musharraf gives us and our new co-operation with India is also fundamentally important."
"So I don't think that it's right for us to somehow take sides or be involved in a public debate so it's better to work quietly, behind the scenes", said Burns said.
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