Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted that “Pakistan’s decision is unfortunate”.
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The minister said that in the spirit of the Simla Agreement, there can be no third party, and in the spirit of the Ufa statement, the NSA-level talks would be limited to terrorism. “The reason for this regretful second cancellation if it is happening, would be the same: Why did the Pakistan High Commission invite three or four leaders from the Indian Occupied Kashmir to a reception organized in New Delhi on August 23 to enable me to meet a cross section of Indian political and business leaders“, Mr Aziz added.
Just a couple of hours before Aziz spoke in Islamabad, Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah was detained in New Delhi when he flew in from Srinagar.
Pakistani and Indian prime ministers had agreed on the meeting of the NSAs when they met at Ufa, Russia, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
The Pakistan foreign office noted that Swaraj had said there was a need to discuss all outstanding issues through a sustained dialogue process which began in 1998, as the Composite Dialogue had became the Resumed Dialogue in 2011.
Singh further said that India has reiterated that talks and terror can’t go together, but talks on terror can be taken up.
Swaraj said she expected a reply soon from Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it was never expecting the talks to lead to any breakthrough and the objective was only to reduce tensions between the neighbours.
“It is not reasonable for India to now assume the right to decide unilaterally that from now onwards, other issues will be discussed after terrorism has been discussed and eliminated”. That has eroded due to frequent attacks and questions over Sharif’s ability to improve ties with India without support from Pakistan’s army.
To a query, he said: “No serious talks with India are possible without discussion on the core issue of Kashmir”.
Even if the Hurriyat leaders are restrained from meeting Aziz, Islamabad cannot technically complain for they are Indian citizens and the establishment here is competent to deal with them as required in the interests of the country.
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“Is it conceivable that India would cancel first ministerial meeting on such a flimsy grounds relating to meeting with Hurriyat leaders”, he said. “I welcome the move and I hope that the talks will take place and will bring peace on our borders”, he told the media here. Aziz says he is still ready to travel to New Delhi for Sunday’s security talks with his counterpart despite fresh tensions between the longtime adversaries.
