 | « Back to article | Print this article |
"I would be misleading, if I said it didn't come up," Holbrooke told State Department Press Corps when asked to comment on the meetings he had with Pakistani leaders during his last week's visit to that country.
Asked if Pakistan has provided him with any "credible evidence of India's involvement in Balochistan", he said, "The narrow answer to your question is no."
However, he did not elaborate any further. He also reiterated that Kashmir is outside his ability to discuss. Responding to questions, Holbrooke said there is no difference with India on the issue of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"You know, India was the first country in the world I was ever aware of. I have a very special feeling for it. And if there's a rift, you have to ask the Indians. I didn't see any rift," the US envoy said.
Holbrooke to visit India in mid-August
Holbrooke is expected to visit New Delhi in mid-August. "I am going to go back in mid-August. Within the limits of Indian independence day. They all are looking forward to my coming," Holbrooke said while briefing about his recent trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan and his plan to visit India.
Holbrooke was scheduled to visit India during his just concluded trip to the region, but could not make it due to scheduling mismatch. "There are four people I usually see. All but one of them were out of the country," he said, explaining that this was the reason why he could not travel to India during his recent trip to the region.
"There's no issue here," he said. "It was basically when he was en route to Pakistan we found out," one of his aides told State Department Press Corps about the cancellation of Holbrooke's visit to India.