Editorials appearing in several newspapers in Pakistan have lampooned the Indian Government for placing Hurriyat leaders under house arrest ahead of the visit of Sartaj Aziz, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’ Advisor on Foreign Affairs And National Security, to Delhi on August 23 And 24.
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“The Prime Minister of India needs to answer this question as last time when Pakistan High Commission invited the Hurriyat, Government called off the talks”, party leader Manish Tewari said.
Security talks between India and Pakistan are in jeopardy with both countries locked in a confrontation Friday over Pakistani officials meeting Kashmiri separatists.
India cancelled talks with Pakistan past year between their foreign secretaries, outraged over a similar meeting that took place, a move that set back already tense relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
During the meeting, the military leadership gave its input on the subject of alleged Indian interference and emphasised that Pakistan must present its view point on core issues during the talks in a forceful manner.
Shabbir Ahmad Shah said talks between Pakistan and India will not make any progress without Kashmir Issue.
The talks between the top security advisers of arch rivals India and Pakistan hit several roadblocks over Kashmir before they’ve even started.
Sources in Delhi, however, inform that the talks are very much on and hence there is nothing to convey to Pakistan formally.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Spokesperson said that meeting with Huriyat leaders is a must and indispensible and that it can’t be compromised. “Meeting Hurriyet leaders is Pakistan’s tradition”, he said, reported Dunya News.
“The same Hurriyat is now (again) eager to talk to the Pakistan high commissioner”, Singhvi said.
The game of brinksmanship worsened late on Friday as Pakistan said it was disappointed with India’s decision to put pre-conditions for official talks.
The government’s reaction comes ahead of the two-day NSA-level talks scheduled for August 23-24 here.
There were also two terror attacks involving Pakistani terrorists in Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.
The “advice” that Aziz should refrain from meeting the Kashmiri separatists was conveyed on Thursday, the ministry said.
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Pro-independence leaders of Kashmir are expected to be detained again while leaving for Delhi or immediately after they land in Delhi, Indian media reports said.
