We are encouraging both parties to sit down and have direct dialogue: US on Doklam standoff

The United States is “encouraging” India and China to “have direct dialogue” to resolve the Doklam standoff, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

"Just that we are encouraging both parties to sit down and have direct dialogue," Heather Nauert said when asked about the United States' stand on the ongoing standoff between India and China in the Doklam plateau next to Sikkim.

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Earlier, the US had said that it was closely following the border standoff.

Last week, a top American defence expert had said that India is "behaving like a mature power" in the Doklam standoff.

Earlier this month, China asked India to pull back its troops from the border region “no string attached”.

India has, however, said that both China and India need to pull back troops from the region.

The crisis began in June when a Chinese construction crew was found to be trying to extend a road in the Doklam region.