US not keen on mediating on Kashmir: Clinton

Islamabad: The United States is not interested in mediating on Kashmir, U S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistan but added it was an impediment to relations between India and Pakistan.Clinton, who will also be in Kabul on Tuesday after her visit to Islamabad, called Kashmir an impediment to relations between both countries. "Kashmir is an impediment, in my view, to the development of a relationship which can be mutually beneficial to India and Pakistan. I think Pakistan can benefit enormously from a positive relationship and increased trade with India," she said.Meanwhile, Al Qaeda's No. 2 leader Ayman al Zawahri has threatened U.S. President Barack Obama ahead of the Kabul summit in an Islamist website. He asked Obama if he could guarantee the security of his envoys. The threat came in response to Obama's speech in Afghanistan to US troops that they will succeed in overthrowing Taliban.Zawahri in an audio tape in March had praised two al Qaeda leaders killed in Iraq. Zawahri at the moment is thought to be in hiding in mountainous territory close to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He called the Arab government leaders allied to the West more harmful to Palestinians than Israel."Poor Obama comes to Kabul and he promises that Taliban shall not return to power. Can you promise that your hordes will return safely to America," a speaker who sounded like Zawahri said in an audio recording posted on Islamist websites often used by al Qaeda.Obama made his first trip to Afghanistan as president in March, delivering a rousing speech to U.S. troops, telling them he was confident they would have success in their mission. Zawahri, an Egyptian, singled out Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak for his blockade of Gaza's border with Egypt, helping Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.
(With inputs from Agencies)