Shah Mehmood Qureshi tones down on US involvement in Kashmir

After pitching for US intervention to resolve the Kashmir problem, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi today appeared to tone down his earlier remarks, saying Washington can play a "facilitating role" in resolving Indo-Pak tensions.
Noting that Kashmir was an "outstanding issue" between India and Pakistan, Qureshi stressed that bilateral talks between India and Pakistan on Kashmir was always the first preference.
"I know India is allergic to third party intervention," the minister told PTI, in response to a question at the Asia Society where Qureshi was speaking, and further added that intervention did not mean "dictating terms."
"They (US) can play a facilitating role but ultimately it us and we have to see what Kashmiris want," he continued.
"The US is a friend and ally of India," the minister pointed out, noting that the previous day, President Barack Obama, speaking at the UN, had mentioned his visit to India and called the country a "thriving democracy."
Qureshi and Krishna are here to attend the opening week of the General Assembly but plans of a bilateral between them have not been firmed up.
Today, however, Qureshi told PTI that "arrangements are under negotiation."
Qureshi and Krishna had a "chance encounter" on yesterday at the UN where they greeted each other warmly and talked about the floods in Pakistan.
The possibilities of a meeting between the two leaders are still being explored through diplomatic channels though "there is no decision as yet."
During his visit, Qureshi has been consistently calling for US intervention in Kashmir but Washington has showed no inclination to get involved in what India maintain are "internal matters."
Addressing a small gathering at the Asia Society today, Qureshi described Kashmir as the "festering sore of South Asia."
"The United States, as the world leader, has special responsibility towards finding a just and peaceful solution of Kashmir," the minister said.
"Occupation and persecution cannot kill Kashmiri spirit. They are demanding their right to self-determination," he added. This follows his remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York based think tank, where he said, "We call upon the United States particularly, which is pressing so responsibly for peace in the Middle East, to also invest its political capital in trying to help seek an accommodation for Kashmir."
At the same time, Qureshi underscored that the need for peace between Pakistan and India, and underlined that there existed several areas of potential cooperation between the two countries including combating climate change, terrorism and poverty.
Describing Krishna's last visit to Pakistan as "useful," Qureshi stressed the importance of resuming the "composite dialogue" and get the peace process on track.
Krishna is in New York till September 29 and Qureshi is here till the 30th.