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Indo-Pak dialogue must to prevent conflict: Clinton

December 15, 2009 12:16 IST

Stressing on the need for resumption of bilateral talks between India and Pakistan on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said extremists could try to provoke a war between  the two countries if such issues are not resolved.

In an interview with a private television channel, Clinton said the Barack Obama administration is working closely with both India and Pakistan to help reduce to heightened tension.

"We've encouraged both Pakistan and India to resume dialogue and talk about everything, including Kashmir, because now the security of both countries is threatened by these forces of extremism," Clinton said in response to a question about Washington's stance on the Indo-Pak dialogue process, stalled since the November 2008 Mumbai terror strike.

Referring to Pakistan's apprehensions regarding the proposed troop surge in Afghanistan, Clinton declared that Washington wants to work with Islamabad to reduce the danger of a spill-over.

"The US 'wants to do a better job' of coordinating with Pakistan to minimise the possibility of any Taliban influx into its territory from across the porous Afghan border," The Daily times quoted Clinton as saying. 

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