“Pakistan recognises no red lines in conduct of its own diplomacy. He (Modi) crossed the red line by talking about Balochistan”.
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The Pakistan Foreign Ministry, which did not offer any comment on the letter, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi crossed the “red line” by talking about Balochistan and said it will “forcefully” raise the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session next month.
“The talks has be focused and concentrated on what Pakistan is doing about terrorism and I would also like to know what they are doing about Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi and the terror restoring camps that they have in their country… what are they doing on that, as we would not want any terror to take place from Pakistan territory”, Sehgal told ANI. He also proposed that the talks should include the progress made by the Pakistan government in detaining and prosecuting internationally recognised terrorists, who have been active in Pakistan in exhorting and supporting violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The world is aware that Pakistan has a long history of violence and terrorism against India, as also in the broader region”.
Meanwhile, India downplayed remarks by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights over denial of permission by Indian government to visit Jammu and Kashmir, saying it has been constructively engaged with the UN body to project a “correct picture” of the state. “More than three decades later, displaying a similar attitude, military personnel were infiltrated across the Line of Control in Kargil in 1999”, he said.
India has set clear terms for talks with Pakistan, outlining a five-point agenda and asking the neighbouring country to stop exporting terror and inciting violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Modi was moved by the messages of gratitude he received from the people of Balochistan and PoK regarding his flagging the issue – at the recent All Party meet – of atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army in those areas, adding that he therefore shared this at his Independence Day address with the nation.
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Releasing the contents of the letter that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar wrote to his Pakistan counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on August 16, the MEA demanded the “cessation of cross-border terrorism” in Jammu and Kashmir, the “closing down of terrorist camps”, and that Islamabad deny “safe havens for terrorists”. And this is not just India’s view. “The PM was touched by these messages and thought of sharing it during his Independence Day speech”.
