US ties with Pakistan not at India’s expense: Rubio

THE US is looking to expand its strategic partnership with Pakistan but not at the cost of its ‘deep’ relationship with India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, in an apparent bid to calm concerns in New Delhi over Washington’s renewed outreach to Islamabad.

- JAYANTH JACOB @NewDelhi

Speaking to reporters, Rubio stressed that both India and the US maintain independent relationships with different nations, terming it “part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy.”

“Just like India has ties with countries that the US doesn't, the vice-versa applies,” Rubio said, adding: “I don’t think anything we're doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important.”