While Jaishankar has “conveyed his willingness” to visit Islamabad for the talks, it has made a pre-condition that talks be centred around “aspects related to cross-border terrorism” that are considered to be “central” to the current situation in J&K, according to highly placed sources.
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Speaking at Delhi’s Foreign Correspondents Club, the FS said, “Rest of the region is with us in wanting a much more cooperative and connected South Asia but we have this one standout country which not only has a different view of region but also has an attitude towards use of terrorism as an instrumental policy of diplomacy”.
Last week, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had announced Pakistan was ready for dialogue with India on Kashmir, in response to which India listed issues that must be addressed before any progress is possible.
Bilkulonline.com, New Delhi, Aug 17: Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar has accepted his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhry’s invitation for talks on Jammu and Kashmir, it is learnt.
India is willing to send its diplomat to Pakistan to discuss cross border terrorism, reported Reuters on Wednesday.
He also said that both India and Pakistan should cooperate on counter-terrorism.
In his Independence Day speech on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded India’s humanity and said even the Baloch people in Pakistan have thanked him for his firm stand against terror and for highlighting attacks against them by people within Pakistan.
“Pakistan will now have to pay a new price for its diplomatic activism on Kashmir: face Indian activism on Balochistan”.
The olive branch comes after 40 days of violent protests in Indian-ruled Kashmir that were sparked by the killing by security forces of a field commander of Pakistan-based Islamic militant group Hizbul Mujahideen who enjoyed wide support.
No comment was immediately available from Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
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“Modi should first stand accountable to the global community for unending and perpetual atrocities against Kashmiris, Muslims and Dalits in Kashmir and in India”, said Bilawal, chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
