Saturday, Dec 12, 2009: Washington: Rejecting Pakistan’s latest plea for U.S. mediation on the Kashmir problem, the Obama administration on Friday said it understood the importance of the issue to both India and Pakistan but it had to be ultimately resolved bilaterally.

“We understand the importance of the Kashmir issue to both Pakistan and India, and it is something that we do discuss with both countries,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley at a news briefing.

“But obviously, at the end of a process that has to be something that is resolved ultimately between Pakistan and India with the active involvement of the people of Kashmir,” he said.

Mr. Crowley was responding to questions related to an opinion piece written by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in The New York Times in which he sought mediation of United States in resolving the Kashmir issue.

‘Step up efforts’

“Just as the Israeli-Palestinian dispute cannot be resolved without accommodating the Palestinian people, there cannot be permanent regional peace in South Asia without addressing Kashmir,” Zardari wrote and appealed to the U.S. to “demonstrate American neutrality and willingness to help India and Pakistan overcome their mutual distrust.” “It [the U.S.] could start by stepping up its efforts to mediate the Kashmir dispute,” Mr. Zardari said in his op-ed.

About the Pakistan President’s opinion piece, Mr. Crowley said “I thought it was a fine op-ed.”

When asked if the Obama administration sees any role for the U.S. in this regard, as is being requested by Islamabad, the State Department said: “I am not aware that we’ve been asked to play a specific role at this point.”