Washington:
Warning that violent extremism faced by Pakistan could destabilise the entire region, US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said that resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue soon could help bring lasting peace in South Asia.
"We are hopeful that there will be a resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India, because I think the threat that Pakistan faces is a threat that could destabilize the entire region," Clinton told Dawn television in an interview, before her departure for Pakistan.
"What we see as the direct threat to Pakistan right now comes from the violent extremism," Clinton said in response to a question, according to the transcripts of the interview made available by the State Department.
US hopes that the ongoing challenges between India and Pakistan will be handled politically and the neighbours never come to any kind of military action, Clinton said.
On her maiden visit to Pakistan after assuming office, Clinton said the Obama administration believes the most durable possible outcomes of any kind of resolution or normalisation can only come from the two countries themselves.
She said the two countries had already made a start by developing more trust, more confidence-building measures and working towards resolving bilateral differences.