WASHINGTON: US State Department’s Spokesperson Mark Toner said on Friday that dialogue between India and Pakistan would prove to be beneficial for both countries.

During his press briefing, Toner refused to offer any comments with regard to JuD chief Hafiz Saeed.

“There are a range of controversial issues going on between India and Pakistan,” he said. “However, in order to further the best interests of the region, we are trying to promote better relations between the two states,” he said.

Toner refused to react to Hafiz Saeed but stated that Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiaba had both been declared terrorists. Mark Toner said that Lashkar-e-Taiba had been involved in the killing of innocent Americans as well.

He said that there had been no change in the US’s stance on the issue of Kashmir.