The United States has suggested that India discuss issues relating to Islamabad's involvement in the Mumbai train blasts directly with Pakistan instead of making allegations in public.
"India should communicate with Pakistan by having direct contact instead of talking about the Mumbai train blasts in public," US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C Crocker was quoted as saying Wednesday.
The United States wanted Indian and Pakistani governments to discuss all the issues between them, including the Kashmir dispute, to normalise relations, Crocker was quoted as saying by local daily Dawn. "We hope that both the countries would keep all their channels open to rectify their misunderstandings."
Statements making accusations would serve no purpose, the US Ambassador reportedly said. On the Havana meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Crocker said the United States appreciated the spirit and sense of understanding reached between both the leaders to resolve differences peacefully.
He did not rule out the possibility of extending nuclear technology to Pakistan for civilian purposes, even though Musharraf, during his recent visit to Washington had said he had broached the issue during his talks with US President George W Bush but the did not get any favourable reply.
Observing that US and Pakistan are currently engaged in discussions over how to meet Pakistan's energy requirements, Crocker said besides conventional resources, Islamabad would be provided all support to explore alternative energy resources through short, medium and long-term plans that would also involve the private sector.
Asked whether the Bush administration would allow American investors to set up nuclear power plants in the proposed 'Designated Industrial Nuclear Parks' in Pakistan, he said "we have made a beginning and at some point in time the US could consider that idea".
He said that US supported Pakistan government's agreement with tribal elders in North Waziristan, adding that Musharraf was taking full interest to restrict the activities of al Qaeda and Taliban both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The US was not against showing "flexibility" to deal with the Taliban as serious issues were not resolved overnight, he said. "In an extended campaign against terror we can panic but we would ultimately succeed with the help of our allies," Crocker said adding that he did not think there was any "Talibanisation" in tribal areas.
He said that after the tripartite meeting at White House, his country would make it sure that there was "no blame game on each other" and both President Musharraf and President Karzai cooperated with each other.
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