Talks only way out to ease Pakistan, India tension

"Obviously the Pakistan-India relationship poses the most hard and urgent challenge", Sharif said, in an address to the U.S. Institute for Peace.

The official further said that any civil-nuclear deal was not discussed during the visit of the Pakistani leadership. When asked for her reaction, former Governor of Alaska and Republican Sarah Palin said it would be better for American foreign policy as "from Pakistan, you can literally see India, Afghanistan and China and so it would be easy to keep an eye on them". "It should deal with the Afghan Taliban the same way it deals with terrorists on Pakistani soil", he was quoted by a section of the Afghan media as saying.

The premier also made clear that Pakistan's main priority was seeking global support to compel India to negotiate over the future of the disputed province of Kashmir.

In response a question on stalled NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan, Aziz said both countries have different interpretation of Ufa statement. The joint statement issued after the two leaders met last week is telling.

"The leaders emphasised the importance of a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbours aimed at resolving all outstanding territorial and other disputes, including Kashmir, through peaceful means and working together to address mutual concerns of India and Pakistan regarding terrorism", it said.

During the talks Pakistan apprised the USA about the Indian subversive activities in FATA, Karachi and Balochistan.

Obama and Sharif, it said "stressed that improvement in Pakistan-India bilateral relations would greatly enhance prospects for lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region".

Asked to comment on Sharif's description of India-Pakistan relationship as a "most hard and urgent challenge", Toners said "I'm not going to certainly parse his perception of what he views as the greatest single threat to Pakistan". The recent violence along the Line of Control figured in the bilateral talks, with a joint statement expressing concern and calling for confidence-building measures and effective mechanisms. The fear of an unstable Pakistan's nukes falling into the wrong hands had led to USA pumping billions of dollars in aid to Pakistan and also standing with them.

Just before travelling to the United States, Sharif named a former general as his new national security adviser. "The Indian position that talks would be only on terrorism is not acceptable to us", he said.

Sharif also "reaffirmed that Pakistan's territory will not be used against any other country and noted that this is an obligation of all countries in the region".

President Obama affirmed Pakistan's role as a key counter-terrorism partner and recognised the sacrifices that Pakistani civilians, military, and law enforcement personnel have made over the years as they confront terrorism and militant groups.