Karachi — The United States will not sacrifice its friendship with Pakistan to improve relations with India, the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan said in an interview published on Wednesday.
The newspaper, Jang, also quoted the Ambassador, Mr. Deane Hinton, as saying that, Washington would meet its obligations for the security and economic welfare of Pakistan.
The remarks followed speculation in Pakistani newspapers that Washington might shift its emphasis in the affairs of the subcontinent towards improving ties with the government of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after the tensions which arose on occasions during the tenure of Indira Gandhi.
“America will not improve relations with India at the cost of Pakistan,” Jang quoted Mr. Hinton as saying.
Mr. Hinton added that $650 million US military and economic aid to Pakistan “cannot and should not” be a hurdle in America’s efforts to promote ties with India.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 1, 1985
