READ ALSO: India-Pakistan NSA-level talks on August 23-24 The calculation was that the Modi government, which prides itself for its “strong on national security” credentials, would rise to the bait.
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Pakistan may have finally agreed to honour the bilateral understanding for NSA-level talks, but that has not calmed the apprehension in New Delhi about the intent of the estranged neigbour, especially that it may use the occasion for grandstanding for the domestic audience.
“Yes, I can confirm I will be going to India on (August) 23 for talks”, Mr Aziz told reporters in Islamabad.
As the first-ever talks between NSA of India and Pakistan set to be held on August 23 here, Congress today said the Narendra Modi dispensation has no policy on Pakistan and its “so-called stand” swings like a “wild pendulum”.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif believes that dialogue is the only option to peacefully resolve issues”, he added.
Despite the recent series of militant attacks and border skirmishes, Aziz said he would be travelling to the Indian capital, New Delhi, next week and he hoped the talks would at least break the ice on some of a range of outstanding issues.
The talks come in the backdrop of repeated ceasefire violations on the border and incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to hold the talks was taken when the prime ministers of the two countries met in Ufa, Russian Federation last month on the sidelines of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit. In his address at an event here to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said, “Aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir could neither be ignored nor put on the back burner”.
The talks, known as the “Composite Dialogue”, were also stopped by India following the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
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Mr Doval is likely to press for handing over of Dawood, a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, expeditious and comprehensive trial of 26/11 case to ensure that LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and outfit’s operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi could be punished, sources said. A Pakistani Foreign Office official had said Pakistan is aware of India’s agenda to highlight the issue of terrorism and planning is being done to counter it.
