New Delhi: A top American Senator Thursday expressed serious concern over ceasefire violations along the border between India and Pakistan and suggested that UN could be a "helpful participant" to resolve the current crisis.
Terming as "reassuring" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment that the situation will improve soon, Senator Timothy M Kaine, also Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on South and Central Asian Affairs, hoped that normalcy would return to border areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to Pakistan's attempt to internationalise the issue and seek UN's role, he said, "I think sometimes the UN can be a helpful participant in the discussion to return to ceasefire for example. So, the Secretary General's comments about that I thought were appropriate.
"Right role or necessity of how deep the UN needs to be engaged, I haven't thought through. But as a promoter of peaceful resolution of disputes the UN does a good job and in that sense I think their participation should be welcomed."
Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has asked India and Pakistan to resolve their issues diplomatically and through dialogue.
Kaine and Senator Angus S King Jr had met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval yesterday and discussed a range of issues including the security situation in the region.
"International border has to be respected. We are very troubled over the civilian deaths," Kaine said during a media interaction here.
Asked about terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, King said US was concerned about terrorism wherever it originates and noted that it has been engaged in dealing with the menace effectively.
"Certainly India is much more proximate to this threat then we are and that is why I think the relationship between India and Pakistan is one that they have to work out on their own. America is concerned about terrorism wherever it resides," King said.
Both the senators described Modi's visit to the US as very successful and welcomed his "strong comment" that ISIS poses a threat to humanity.
Asked whether US was disappointed over India's position that it will not join any military coalition against ISIS, the senators said New Delhi will have to decide its own role.
