'Third party intervention won't improve Indo-Pak ties'

In a clear indication that it disfavours appointment of a US envoy for the Indian sub-continent, India said that there was a bilateral mechanism to improve Indo-Pak ties and third party intervention would not not make any difference.

In a clear indication that it disfavours appointment of a US special envoy for the Indian sub-continent, India said on Tuesday that there was a bilateral mechanism to improve Indo-Pak ties and third party intervention would not not make any difference.

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Asked about US media reports that the incoming Obama Administration may appoint former President Bill Clinton or some other person as special envoy, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that such news reports were speculative.

However, he told PTI, "In the preliminary interaction which we have had with our interlocutors (in the Obama transitional team) we have suggested to them ...We already have established a bilateral mechanism to improve relationship between India and Pakistan.

"We have also said that third party intervention is not not going to make any substantial difference."

Mukherjee said, "I do not know whether the mandate is for something else. That is why we shall have to wait and see what is actual. So many speculative news items are coming."

Speaking of the wider Indo-US ties, Mukherjee said that the bi-partisan support India had received on the civil nuclear deal in the US Congress was a manifestation of the fact that both the Republicans and Democrats wanted good relationship with India.

During the voting in the Senate, both Senators Barack Obama and his Republican rival John McCain had voted in support of the deal, he recalled.

"I have no no doubt that the expanding relationship which has been established between India and USA and which has manifested in various sectors starting from defence framework to civil nuclear cooperation agreement and in many other areas will grow from strength to strength under the Obama Administration."