India had yesterday rejected Pakistan’s proposal to hold Foreign Secretary-level talks on Kashmir and made it clear that terrorism was “central” to its relations with Islamabad, whose different view and attitude has made it hard for bilateral ties to grow.
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Asking the Indian government to respond positively to Pakistan’s invitation for talks on Kashmir, it said, “Indian foreign secretary should respond positively to Pakistan’s invitation”.
Releasing the contents of the letter that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar wrote to his Pakistan counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on August 16, the MEA demanded the “cessation of cross-border terrorism”, the “closing down of terrorist camps”, and denial of “safe havens for terrorists”.
“FS had underlined to Pakistan that it has no locus standi on J&K which is an integral part of India”, he said while adding that no decision had been taken on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s participation in SAARC FM’s meeting in Islamabad.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments about Pakistan’s Balochistan province have given rise to a spate of protests across the province.
However, India wants to sit across the table and talk point-blank on the grievances it has with its neighbour, particularly in the light of the revelation made by captured Pak terrorists recently about Pakistan security apparatus’ involvement in the Valley’s unrest.
K.K. Sharma, a top official of the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force, said the attacks came as India celebrated the anniversary of its independence from Britain.
“People of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have thanked me a lot in the past few days”, Modi said. Pakistan, on its part, sees the dispute over Kashmir as the main cause for tensions in the bilateral relationship. “It is, therefore, essential that the United Nations fact finding team must visit IOK”, it added.
At least 66 people have lost their lives in large-scale violence in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani early last month.
About 60 militants took advantage of the riots in Jammu and Kashmir state to enter the country from Pakistan and carry out attacks in recent weeks, today revealed a security source.
PM says Pakistan remains committed to peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through negotiations and dialogue process.
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On 15 July 2016 Pakistan had requested the United Nations rights commissioner to send a fact finding mission to Indian Occupied Kashmir to report on the gross violations of human rights since July 8, 2016.
