A delegation from Islamabad led by the prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz, will visit New Delhi to meet Indian officials on August 23 and 24. The two nations must continue to engage in dialogue for a long-term solution to the problem of terrorism.
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An official statement issued by the Pakistan PM House stated that “matters relating to the internal security situation of the country were discussed in the meeting“.
Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Aziz, PM’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and other officials were present in the meeting.
While government is taking all steps to counter continuous attempts to destablize it, one shall not only remain sympathetic to it, but also ensure its stability for development of the state and welfare of the country, he said, adding that formation of BJP-PDP coalition government has been a biggest experiment about democratic values in the state.
As part of the rapprochement effort, the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed that India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, would hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Sartaj Aziz.
India halted bilateral sports with Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008, which New Delhi blamed on militants based across the border. Muslim Pakistan says it only gives moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in the face of human rights abuses by Indian forces.
According to reports, Pakistan had decided to press for a discussion on alleged Indian involvement in unrest in Balochistan, Karachi and tribal areas. There have also been two major terror attacks in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. “The prime minister did not send a tough message to Pakistan from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day“, he said.
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Talking to reporter after his meeting with Mr Sharif, Senator Mushahidullah said he had formally handed in his resignation on the premier’s directive. In reply to a question by the interviewer, “I had only said that we had been receiving information about the involvement of the ISI in the PTI protest sit-in”.
