The United States on Monday asked India and Pakistan to take steps to end the exchange of fire and resume normal trade and travel across the Line of Control.
The United States announced to stop financial contribution to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation after the UN body voted to admit Palestine as its full member, which the Obama administration termed as regrettable and premature.
"Some of the senior staff who spoke to her about half an hour ago say that she's sounding terrific, upbeat, raring to go. She's looking forward to getting back to the office," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told media person.
The United States, the United Nations and the European Union have welcomed the announcement by the militaries of India and Pakistan to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors, and hoped that it would lead to greater peace and stability in South Asia.
Promising to respect democracy, the new Maldives President Mohammed Waheed has told the United States that he intends to form a national unity government which would include participation of opposition parties.
"Today, Ambassador Ryan Crocker confirmed to the Afghan Government, US Mission Afghanistan, and the ISAF community that he intends to depart his post for health reasons in mid-summer, following the Kabul and Tokyo conferences," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday.
United States Ambassador to India Nancy Powell will leave New Delhi on May 22, four days before Narendra Modi takes oath as the prime minister.
The United States said that Pakistan has committed itself to the Afghanistan reconciliation process and there was a high level interaction between the two countries.
The United States on Monday said it had made "considerable progress" with Pakistan in negotiations on the re-opening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation supply routes to Afghanistan, on the eve of crucial meetings in Pakistan to discuss the issue.
The United States said it does not endorse the new "controversial" Chinese map on its passport, which depicts certain disputes territories as its own, causing a major diplomatic row in the region including with India.
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland in response to a question on the latest missile test by Pakistan, said, "(We give) the same message that we gave at the time of the Indian test: that we urge all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint regarding nuclear and missile capabilities."
Cricket might be Greek to the Americans, but they still support cricket diplomacy between arch rivals India and Pakistan. "We are for cricket. We don't understand it, but we like it," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said while replying to a query on the resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan.
Pleased with the settling of the leadership issue in Pakistan, the Obama administration on Friday said it is looking forward to work with the new prime minister hoping this would provide them with an opportunity to get the relationship back on track.
The United States on Monday described as 'horrific' the Taliban announcement to ban polio vaccine in the tribal regions of Pakistan unless America stops the drone strikes.
"On the US side, I don't have any reason to believe that we have a violation of US law here. With regard to the Indian side, I'll refer you to them," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said on Monday, categorically dismissing allegations by Indian opposition parties in this regard.
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland threw enough hints which could be interpreted that Grossman could have had encounter with Taliban representatives, but did not respond directly to such a question at her press conference.
"Absolutely untrue", State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, when asked there was a feeling inside Pakistan that they are being sidelined in these talks with Taliban.
"I think that Leno would be appreciative if we make the point that his comments are constitutionally protected in the United States under free speech, and frankly, they appeared to be satirical in nature," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told media persons.
The United States has said it is not part of the Indian investigation that is looking into doctored images and videos being uploaded on the internet by elements in Pakistan to create social unrest in the country.
"He (Assange) is making all kinds of wild assertions about us when in fact his issue with the government of the United Kingdom has to do with whether he's going to face justice in Sweden for something that has nothing to do with WikiLeaks; it has to do with charges of sexual misconduct," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.
The United States is providing relief material and aid to the flood affected people of Pakistan following an appeal in this regard from Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani, a US official has said.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will discuss non-proliferation issues among other things during her trip to India in May, a United States official said on Saturday. "The Secretary will be in India, both in Delhi and in Kolkata. She will have a chance in the context of our bilateral dialogue to talk about the full range of issues, including nonproliferation issues," said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.
"We have not made any decisions with regard to releases," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told media persons when asked about news reports regarding release of Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo as part of the reconciliation process.
The US said the removal of the ban on the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation would jeopardise Pakistan's ability to meet its commitments to fight terrorism.
The United States has said that it is willing to address all the concerns of Pakistan and find a middle ground to take forward their important and crucial relationship.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reached out to her counterparts of more than a dozen countries, including Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, as the Obama Administration stepped up its effort to increase pressure on the Syrian regime.
United States State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland has said that India played no role in the bounty being placed on the former Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder.
The United States is in touch with several countries, including India and Turkey, on how to "significantly reduce" their dependence on Iranian oil to avoid American sanctions in this regard, a State Department official has said. "We are working hard with India to see if we can help with regard to reducing the country's dependence and the dependence of any of the other countries on Iranian crude, and looking at alternative sources of supply as well," said a spokesperson.
The United States o Friday said senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who returned to New Delhi, no longer enjoys immunity and she and Indian government were told that an arrest warrant might be issued against her.
This move responds to Russia's cessation of implementation of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, which began in December 2007, and the subsequent impasse with Moscow on a way forward," State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, said on Tuesday.
The United States said on Monday that it is playing its part in the Indian effort to bring to justice all those who were responsible for terrorist attack in Mumbai in November 2008.
The United States has said it is strongly supportive of India's investment in the civil nuclear power sector and does not favour its NGOs opposing anti-nuclear activities in the country. "We are supportive, as a government, of India's investment in civil nuclear power. That's not what we support NGOs to do in India," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said when asked about recent statements by Indian authorities that American NGOs are involved.
US is talking to India along with other countries like China on reducing their dependence on Iranian oil.
United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake will travel to Maldives for a first-hand assessment of the current political crisis in the island nation. "Assistant Secretary Blake has decided that he will add a stop in Male, capital of the Maldives, to his upcoming trip to the region. He will be there on Saturday, February 11, en route also to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as planned," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.
Strongly reacting to Pakistan jailing a doctor who helped the Central Intelligence Agency find Osama bin Laden to 33 years, the United States has said there was no basis for the verdict and it will raise the issue with the leadership in Islamabad. "We continue to see no basis for (Shakil) Afridi to be held," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters.
Amid strained ties with Pakistan, the United States has disbursed USD 2.2 billion (Rs 11,440 cr) civilian aid to Islamabad in the past two years under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, the State department has said.
The United States on Monday urged all people concerned to protect the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in view of allegations of a Chinese plot to assassinate him.
Thirteen Iranians were rescued by a US Navy destroyer on Thursday, more than 40 days after their boat was commandeered by suspected Somali pirates in the northern Arabian Sea.
As US State Department on Wednesday posted a new map of India reflecting its long standing official position on the country's geographical boundaries, its spokesman acknowledged of having made a "goof up" in this regard, which had resulted in a strong objection from New Delhi.
The Siachen issue between India and Pakistan is to be primarily resolved through dialogue, but the United States is willing to help the two neighbors in whatever way it could, a State Department official said on Monday.
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