Pakistan views Indo-US ties as zero-sum game: Hillary Clinton

Every time the US tries to improve its ties with India, it creates a lot of "cognitive dissonance" in Pakistan where the Indo-American relations have become a zero-sum game, secretary of state Hillary Clinton said.

Whenever, "We make a move toward improving our relationship with India, which we started in the '90s, and it's been bipartisan, with both President (Bill) Clinton and President (Barack) Obama and President (George W ) Bush, the Pakistanis find that creates a lot of cognitive dissonance," she said.

"So are you our friend or their friend? It's all a zero-sum game to them," she said yesterday during a hearing on Pakistan at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Clinton also said that she was encouraged by the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan.

At the same time, she expressed support to India's stand that Pakistan needs to prevent the use of its territory against India, conceding that this is one of the greatest impediments to peace talks between the two countries.

"With respect to India, we are working very hard on our strategic partnership with India," Clinton said in response to a question.

"I think it's fair to say that, you know, India looks at Pakistan and believes that their continuing support for elements of insurgency against India in Kashmir and across the border into India proper makes it very difficult for them to know what path to choose," Clinton said.