HOLBROOKE 2

Holbrooke, however, noted that both India and Pakistan
have an interest in Afghanistan.
"This is my own personal feeling about these three
countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The three
countries are vastly different in culture, socioeconomic
standing, political development, and – but they share a common
strategic space," he said, adding that in order to understand
America's policy and America's policy dilemma, one has to
understand that both India and Pakistan have legitimate
security interests in the region.
"I am not talking about that certain area between them
which I am not going to mention by name, because I am not
going to get involved in that," Holbrooke said in an apparent
mention to Kashmir.
"People who have advocated that are making a proposal
which I believe runs counter to stability in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan must be dealt with on its merits," he argued.
Holbrooke stressed that both countries have legitimate
security interests.
"If one country says the other has no interest, then
it's hard to have a dialogue. That's why (US) President
(Barack) Obama has said we encourage any sort of dialogue
between the two countries, and Afghanistan is not the core of
the issue, but it is a part of the issue," he said.
"The other issues I would mention that are very
critical are water – water is a huge issue here, and
increasingly on our trips, people in both countries talk about
water – and overall security relationships. Other issues have
arisen continually," he said.(MORE )PTI