The letter apparently reiterates New Delhi’s response to an earlier letter, stating its willingness to engage in foreign secretary-level talks but not on issues chosen by Pakistan.
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“Such cooperation should not be to the detriment of Pakistan”, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement.
India has provided over $2 billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan in more than a decade.
“What I would say is that terrorism and providing support and sanctuary and safe havens to terrorists and making the distinction between good and bad terrorists has posed enormous risk to peace and stability in our region”.
Upping the ante in his independence day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only mentioned that he had support from people in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, but also from Balochistan, Pakistan’s restive province.
India and China have a series of working groups – mostly headed by officials of the rank of joint secretary – that handle specific shared concerns, ranging from counter-terrorism to trade, and these will continue as the nodes for the ties between the two nations. India denies the charge.
The Foreign Secretary has made it clear that India seeks result-oriented talks with Pakistan with an agenda to put an end to cross-border terrorism and incitement to violence by it, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
But outside Modi’s entourage, questions are being asked about what strategic reward, if any, India can hope to gain by raising the geopolitical stakes. “Sooner Pakistan recognises this central and important fact, the sooner, India-Pakistan relationship can progress”.
At least 66 protesters and two security personnel have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday urged the ambassadors of United Nations Security Council’s permanent members (P5) and the European Union to fulfil their worldwide commitments to the people of India-held Kashmir (IHK) under the UN’s resolutions. Justifying terrorism and interfering in India’s internal affairs are hardly a serious basis for a result-oriented dialogue, India has told Pakistan.
Some of the Baloch separatist leaders who praised Mr Modi before his address worry that their battle for a homeland will become a political football between the two rivals.
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“The Advisor said the oppressive measures by India couldn’t deter the valiant people of the Jammu and Kashmir from their just struggle for their Right of Self Determination”.
