United States has said it encourages pakIstan and India to pursue and engage in direct dialogue for reducing tensions. Addressing a press briefing in Washington, Mark Toner said Pakistan is fighting a serious and sustained campaign against terrorists and making progress. He said united states believes Pakistan and India really stand to benefit from the normalization of relations between them and practical cooperation between them. To a question regarding recent Pakistan-Russian military exercises, mark toner said that they were not part of ‘great game’.