Special Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on Saturday said Pakistan would not invite the of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Assembly speaker to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be held from September 30 to October 8.
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India will boycott a Commonwealth Parliamentary Union meeting in Islamabad next month in protest against Pakistan not inviting the Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, a decision that comes in the midst of tensions over two terror attacks in Punjab and J and K.
He added that over 70 percent of delegates had already confirmed their participation to the conference and there is no chance of it being postponed just because India will not attend.
Describing Pakistan’s decision as “wrong”, she said she had called today’s meeting to consult Speakers of the Assemblies before taking a decision. “Kashmir has been a disputed territory”, he declared.
“It is extremely unfortunate that Pakistan has not invited the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly speaker for the CPA meet”. He said he would raise the issue of Indian interference in Pakistan with the national advisor of that country.
The occasion was a meeting of the Speakers of the Assemblies and chairpersons of the Legislative Councils called for by the Speaker of Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan.
The official said the move by Islamabad angered New Delhi and it has communicated to all States to withhold sending nominations for the conference.
Sartaj Aziz expressed the desire to resolve all issues with India through dialogue. It was carrying out its subversive activities in Balochistan, Karachi and Fata particularly and Pakistan had decided to provide India with this proof.
In a hint that Pakistan might even walk the talk was evident from Aziz’s remarks that India’s blame game would be a topic for the NSA talks.
However, there was an uproar in India over Pakistan not extending an invitation to the Indian Kashmir’s assembly, like the rest of the state and federal houses. This will be the first ever such conference in Pakistan.
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The resolution underlined that Jammu and Kashmir “fulfils all conditions” of CPA membership.
