Islamabad maintained that consultations with them were a “routine matter” and a “long standing practice”.
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“Although the security talks are not the revival of the Composite Dialogue, the meeting would be “ice-breaking” as we will hold discussions on some important issues“, Aziz said.
Since the “K” word was missing from the joint statement signed in UFA between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, it is amply clear that Pakistan is trying its best to get India to call off the talks.
Three Indian Kashmiri separatist leaders were briefly placed under house arrest on Thursday in the region’s main city of Srinagar, but were later released in what Indian media have branded a government flip-flop on the contentious issue.
A part of Kashmir is also held by China.
The Foreign Secretary conveyed this message to Indian High Commissioner in response to “advice” conveyed to Pakistan through the High Commissioner in this regard. There is no sign of optimism on both sides about the Aziz-Doval moot.
India has signalled that those factors are deal-breakers. It has been hardline all the way, with officials in Pakistan clear that there will be no give on terrorism, and officials in India speaking about the “surprise” that, in the current context, does not sound very promising for sustained dialogue.
Pakistan has confirmed that the key issues including Kashmir will be discussed during the meeting between Sartaz Aziz and Ajit Doval.
He said Pakistan enjoys strong bilateral ties with UAE and other gulf countries and have extensive cooperation in many area including trade and defence. We’ve had an attack in Gurdaspur in Punjab after 20 years. We have 1.3 million Pakistanis in the UAE, who have been contributing to the socio-economic development of our brotherly country.
“We wanted to hold talks to build trust but Islamabad has rejected our request”.
India accuses Pakistan of arming and financing the militants.
Stressing on the need to focus only on the issue of terrorism may be good point to sell to the domestic audience. “It’s so obvious that Ufa & now these planned NSA talks are under global pressure with both Ind & Pak hoping the other will pull out”, he said. Aziz has not even sent his itinerary yet.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained, since the end of British rule in 1947, by their rival claims to the region of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Diplomatic sources told The News that Yasin Malik was non-committal about personally attending the reception.
