DOUBLE STANDARDS OF US: 'PAK PARTNER' IN COUNTER TERROR

Congress picks up the remark to attack the Central government

- AGENCIES

The United States has to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India, a top US general has said, noting that it cannot be a "binary switch" where Washington cannot have ties with Islamabad if it has relations with New Delhi.

US Army General Michael Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), made the comments during a testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

The Congress, the opposition party, picked up the comments of the US General to attack the Central government. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh asked whether development is not a diplomatic setback.

"We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India," Kurilla said. "We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has."