"Although the Obama administration has previously said that declaring Pakistan astate is not on the cards right now, a state department official was a little more circumspect while not ruling it out on Monday. "That's a very specific process and determination that involves a legal process and assessment," spokesman Mark Toner said, when asked about the petition, adding that the US "focus right now is to enhance their capability... to deal with a terrorist threat on their soil. "If the insinuation is that there's some kind of tit-for-tat or Great Game being played out here, that's not at all the case...there's no zero-sum game here. we share a very similar vision of the world...we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation," he said.And with Pakistan? "We want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses both domestically for Pakistan but also the fact that there are terrorist groups on - that seek refuge or asylum or shelter in Pakistan's territory.

Source: Times of India September 27, 2016 16:30 UTC