US public assertion on terrorism, Kashmir dispute irks India

Indian envoy seeks briefing on outcome of Nawaz’s visit to US

India has lodged protest with the United States against its public assertion with regard to terrorism that has been given bilateral trajectory between India and Pakistan and Kashmir has been termed as ‘dispute’ in the wake of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with President Obama on Friday last in White House.

The Indian reservations have been reflected in its wide media observations. Highly placed diplomatic sources in Washington told The News Tuesday that India was awaiting the response of the US authorities regarding its protest.

Indian ambassador for the US Arun Singh has established contact with the State Department immediately after the summit meeting of Pakistan and the United States. He wanted to seek briefing about the outcome of the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the United States.

It was an extra ordinary exercise and diplomats stationed in Washington kept an eye on the development, the sources pointed out. Pakistan’s ambassador for the United States Syed Jalil Abbas Jailani was contacted for his observations but he declined to offer any comment.

The sources pointed out that the joint statement issued after the meeting of Prime Minister Nawaz and President Obama had caused great disquiet in Indian camp and lobby in Washington.

The two countries have been urged to curb terrorism and it has been contrary to the Indian position since it asked the United States that India isn’t prepared to buy it.New Delhi has throughout been linking the terrorism as an issue of Pakistan and it has to be addressed by Islamabad.

The joint statement has negated it squarely. The Indians have also reminded US high ups that New Delhi isn’t comfortable of reference of Kashmir in the joint statement and further more it is has been termed as “dispute.” It is the position that New Delhi couldn’t expect from Washington in changed ambiance, the sources said while referring to India grudges.

The sources said that Pakistan’s mission in Washington was keeping a vigil eye on the developments and activities of Indian lobby. It is hopeful that the understanding reached between Pakistan and the US with regard to various subjects would be followed through deeds in letter and spirit by both the countries.

Yet in another significant development, Pakistan’s outstanding payment under Coalition Support Fund (CSF) of three hundred million US dollars would be paid soon as Congressional leaders have reached a tentative deal with the Obama administration on a government spending plan that could avoid another contentious budget standoff between the White House and hardliner conservative Republicans. The CSF for Pakistan is part of the plan.

The US has already informed Pakistan with regard to the payment. The agreement is the result of weeks of negotiations led by House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the leaders of the Republican-led House and Senate, plus House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic head Harry Reid.

The plan would fully fund the federal government and extend the government’s debt ceiling, or borrowing authority, through March 2017, two months after President Barack Obama leaves office.

The plan boosts spending for both military and domestic programmes by about $50 billion in 2016, and another $30 billion in 2017, as well as an extra $16 billion a year for the Pentagon’s overseas war fighting budget. The extra funding lifts the automatic spending limits imposed by Congress under a 2011 budget deal.

The extra spending would be offset by long-term savings to the Social Security Disability Insurance programme and a cap on payments to health care providers by Medicare, the federal government’s health insurance programme for elderly Americans.

The plan must be approved by the House and Senate and signed by the president before next Tuesday, November 3, when the government’s current borrowing authority expires and the nation faces a first-ever default on its debt obligations.

Congressional leaders would then enter into negotiations to determine how to fund individual government agencies before December 11, when a temporary spending plan expires.The House could vote on the budget agreement as early as Wednesday, the day before they vote on a new House speaker.