Relations With India, Pak Not At Expense Of Other: White House

"The President was not able to visit Pakistan in 2011, as was originally planned, given significant bilateral tensions that year... The Bin Laden raid, and a number of other incidents that took place," Rhodes said.

"I think both countries have acknowledged that. But we've moved on. Recently, Secretary (of State) John Kerry was able to visit Pakistan. He was able to visit Peshawar, where the horrific terrorist attack took place. We are able to have a strategic dialogue with the Pakistanis," he said.

"We believe that that relationship (with Pakistan) is on the uptick. It is as good as it has been in years. So we feel confident about our high-level engagement," Rhodes said.

In an apparent reference to India's response to a Taliban attack on an army school in Peshawar, he said, "I think terrorism is an issue that can unite people who have faced traditional divides. We saw that in the aftermath of the horrific attack in Peshawar, where India was very quick to issue a statement of condolence and reach out to the Pakistani people," he said.

The Indian government, he said, is very focused on dealing with the terrorism threat.

The U.S. has encouraged India and Pakistan to pursue a peace dialogue to resolve their bilateral issues, and has been very supportive of that process, the presidential aide said.

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