Washington: The US joined India in reprimanding China for criticising the ongoing India-US military exercise in Uttarakhand, not far from the LAC, as its top diplomat supported India's position that the joint exercises, officially known as Yudh Abhyas, is none of China's business.
US chargé d'affaires Elizabeth Jones, however, defended the US decision to allow Pakistan to sustain its F-16 fleet saying the $450 million package was meant for maintenance, and not upgradation of Islamabad's F-16 programme. While India had lodged a strong protest with the US, Jones said the US has similar maintenance packages for all countries it supplies the aircraft to. On ties with Pakistan, she said the US had separate policies for India and Pakistan and these were not related to or dependent on each other.
In response to a question about democracy and press freedom in India, the country's permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, stated that India does not need to be told what to do regarding democracy.
Jones also spoke on the Russian oil price cap saying that while it will be "appropriate" for countries to take into account that the cap is meant to reduce Moscow’s ability to wage war, what they finally do will have to be a sovereign decision.
She welcomed India's G20 presidency and said it was good to see the Bali summit's focus shift back to fundamental economic issues. She also praised the fact that member states were able to come to an agreement on a statement despite their disagreements regarding Ukraine. The US thinks the G20 won't be concerned with ending the war because separate peace negotiations will take place.
Asked about China’s protest against Yudh Abhyas, Jones said, “I would point you to the statements we have heard from our Indian colleagues to the effect that it’s really none of their business.”
