Strategic dialogue with Pak not at India's expense: US

By Lalit K Jha

WASHINGTON, March 20 — The US has made it clear that its first strategic dialogue with Pakistan next week is not being held at India's expense, even as it said it is "pleased" that army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is part of Islamabad's delegation as there can be no such talks without the military participation.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmoud Qureshi would be co-chairing the day-long meeting on March 24. Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Shuja Pasha will also be part of the Pakistani delegation.

"How can you have a strategic dialogue without including the military," Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, told reporters here.

"If we have a strategic dialogue in our country, we're going to include the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff or some other representative. (PNA/PTI)

DCT/rsm

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