India is ready to send its top diplomat to Pakistan for talks focused on fighting cross-border terrorism, sources at India’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, after a spike in tension in the disputed northernmost region of Kashmir.
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Criticising Pakistan’s comments on Kashmir unrest, Alok said Pakistan is no one to make comments on the situation in Kashmir and the Indian Government should not only reject it, but should also “ridicule” and “condemn” Pakistan on global platforms.
The letter highlights the global obligation of both the countries, India and Pakistan, to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. On Monday, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan was handed over an invitation addressed to Jaishankar for talks, the dates for which have not yet been announced.
Minister of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup today said that India will not discuss about Kashmir with Pakistan as the latter has no locus standi on Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also raised the issue of atrocities by Pak security forces in Balochistan.
She said the world has witnessed some of India’s worst human rights abuses over the past seven decades, not only in Kashmir but also against Naga movement, the Naxalite and the Maoist movement as well.
At least 62 people have died in daily protests and clashes with police and army soldiers in Kashmir since government troops killed a popular rebel leader almost six weeks ago.
“Problem is that the terrorism issue has become so central to the relationship that it makes the relationship hard to grow”, Jaishankar said in his address at the Foreign Correspondents Club here.
Interestingly, Pakistan, which has been constantly seeking United Nations intervention in Jammu &Kashmir, has rejected an offer by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to access POK to investigate allegations of human rights violence on its side.
However, within days of the agreement, Pakistan insisted that any talks between the national security advisers take up the Kashmir dispute as well. The PPP chairman also noted that his party along with all the democratic forces of Pakistan have strongly condemned the outrageous remarks of Narendra Modi and asked him to allow Kashmiri people the right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations aegis instead of dilly-dallying and prolonging the issue.
Jaishankar, however, separately said terrorism has become central to the relationship with Pakistan and it was hindering growth in ties, Indian Express reported.
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In a strong criticism of Pakistan, he said nearly all major initiatives of India in Saarc – be it enhancing connectivity or having deeper engagement in some other key areas – did not fructify due to hurdles posed by Islamabad. “This can be an opportunity to revive the Pakistan-India dialogue process”, the editorial said.
