Manmohan Singh isolated on Pakistan: WikiLeaks

The United States judged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was isolated within his own government over pushing for resumed talks with Pakistan, cables obtained by WikiLeaks revealed Tuesday.

The United States judged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was isolated within his own government over pushing for resumed talks with Pakistan, cables obtained by WikiLeaks revealed Tuesday.

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The rival South Asian states suspended talks in 2008 after Islamist gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai, and only agreed last month to resume their dialogue.

In an August 2009 diplomatic cable published by The Hindu newspaper, US ambassador Timothy Roemer reported that Singh was "more isolated than we thought within his own inner circle".

Roemer said Singh lacked allies because he was a "great believer" in communicating with Islamabad -- in contrast to the then national security adviser MK Narayanan.

India and Pakistan started a formal peace dialogue in 2004, continuing until the rupture caused by the Mumbai attacks.

The nuclear-armed countries have fought three wars since the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, and relations have been plagued by border disputes and accusations of Pakistani militant activity against India.