It was India who suspended secretary-level talks in August last year so now New Delhi should initiate the process, said Sartaj Aziz. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday that the onus was now on India to resume the stalled dialogue process with Pakistan after suspending it in August last year, Radio Pakistan reported.
While addressing at the concluding session of 'Ideas Conclave 2015' conference organised by the Jinnah Institute in Islamabad on Wednesday evening, he said that Pakistan was committed to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues with its eastern neighbor. However, he pointed out that it was India who suspended secretary-level talks in August last year and the initiative should now come from New Delhi to resume the process.
Condemning recent violations of the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary by India, Aziz said these violent acts betray India’s intentions towards Pakistan.
The adviser on foreign affairs said building peaceful and friendly relations with all neighboring countries, including Afghanistan is a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.
He reiterated Pakistan’s support for an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, terming it vital for achieving long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan.
In his address, former foreign secretary Najmuddin Shaikh observed that Pakistan and Afghanistan need to work together to deal with common threats like terrorism and extremism.
Afghanistan's Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai reiterated his government’s resolve that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan and any other neighboring country.
COMMENTS (28)
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@NotSoFast!: Pakistan is spelt as "Pakistan"not as "India"
@NotSoFast!: Can u provide the links pls ...
@NotSoFast!:
Is this what they taught at your Madarsas? Boy, you are so out of touch, it's really funny! If your "assessment" makes you feel happy, so be it. I guess it's too much to ask of you links of what you have posted - Einstein! ;-)
@Prithviraj: Pak loan is peanuts compare to India; Check IMF report. Indian whole national annual budget, except Arms, depend on IMF... to the tune of $59billion. Also, It's only extremists who are fighting for Ruthless Wahhabi Laws, not majority of Pak Citizens. BTW; India's economy is spiraling down faster than it rose ten years ago; Check Asian economic Index. Now, By not taking Pak trade offers India made a big mistake of not making Pak and connected countries its dependent; may be she don't have the potential for quality & supply to fill orders. About democracy; at least we are fighting to get on track after so much time wasted during dictators & foreign battles on our soil; that's better than not at all recognizing the problem. About the difference between Pak & India defense capabilities; Check gravely low mark U.S. & NATO gave to India during their combined war games episode and tactical analyses of Indian command & control capabilities.
You have your priorities, while India has its. Your immediate needs are to run around with a begging bowl to individual nations and multilateral agencies because you cannot buy basic necessities for your exploding population. And you cannot keep up with interest payments on past loans. And you steadily fall behind in military capabilities because you can't come anywhere close to India in defence expenditure.
Meanwhile, you play pretend democracy and act as if your pathetic civilian institutions have any semblance of logic or professionalism. I laugh until I'm light-headed when I read about your suo moto notices, or any of the other pretentious Latin terms you throw around -- when the fact is that all of your institutions are corrupt, capricious and a joke to anyone looking in.
And what are your priorities, other than mendicancy, that is? Becoming more Islamic than even the Arabs, demonstrative so, so that your sponsors in the Middle East will hopefully acknowledge your sycophancy and throw a few more pennies your way, maybe sponsor a few terrorist acts by you.
India's priorities are to grow economically, to provide opportunities for people so they will be the best they can be, to continue to work towards being the great Civilization it once was and still is. So we choose not to take on that onus! We have no desire to talk to you.
The best way to deal with cry babies is to ignore them.
@Jay: The issue is only about Kashmir valley which even Pak has officially agreed.
Ironical, Isn't it? On one hand Advisor Aziz wants India to take an initiative to talk toPakistan and on the other he wants to apply pressure through USA and UK so that Indians talk to Pakistan. What is that you want Mr. Aziz? If the onus is on Indians, then let Indians decide if they want to talk or not. Period.
Dear Pakistani Government stop playing Muslim card. We are fed up of this nonsense. You have got your country & let us live in ours.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: We understand your pain and anger of country broke into 2 pieces and war loses. But you don't understand where this pain has brought you today and where Kashmir adamant is taking you to. We are only watching at how low you can dive too with your childish behavior.
Ok. Noted. Do you really need to repeat yourself every two days????
Sartaz, India is ready when you are. Stop terrorist attacks on India and India will start talking. Man Mohan Singh does work there anymore.
Aziz shahab too old to think now.
@Bewildered: Hmm, so what are you proposing - a war with India? In conventional war India is 3 times as big. Nuclear war is unthinkable and covert war is already being carried out by Pakistan from 1989 with no results. So dream on...
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: John B is of Indian origin and do feels India's pain.
@Mohammd Ali Siddiqui: Talks on Kashmir is FUN for you??? This shows how serious u are abt kashmir. I went to J&K (indian side kashmir) this december 2014 and it is prospering with tourists flocking from whole of india...it is top five tourist dest of india...it is 200 times better than wht u hv done to muzzafarabad where no body comes...no elec...bad roads..i saw that on paki news channel. But someday pakistan will change...i will pray for you all.
Thanks for reading.
I have a question for all those who want Kashmir to be part of Pakistan : Present Indian Kashmir is divided into 3 parts - Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Laddakh, The valley is majority Muslim - from where a million Kashmiri pundits have been driven out. If they were to return I think the majority will shrink quite a bit. We know the Hindus were there before the Moghuls invaded or any other Central Asian invader came to India so that makes the land as their's as well as the Muslims' land . second Jammu is majority Hindu and Sikh and other people too. there are muslims there too. Laddakh is 90% Buddhists.
If entire Indian Jammu and Kashmir was to be given to Pakistan what will happen to the Buddhists ? what will happen to the Sikhs and the Hindus ? what will happen to the Kashmiri Hindus ?
Can anyone answer that ? I have lots of friends who live in Laddakh. They shiver at the thought of joining Pakistan.
Then there is the matter of muslim land and the rest of the land - > if that was the case then Kashmir valley should go to Pakistan not Jammu and no Ladakh. But of course the people of valley have to say so . As far as plebiscite is concerned the UN has clearly said that Pakistani army has to go from Pakistani side of Kashmir. will Pakistan do that ?
If muslim land has to go to muslim country then muslims should also go to muslim country. in that case 180 million Indian muslims should also be called by Pakistan there as Pakistan was created for Muslims. Will the Pakistanis invite the Indian musilms to go there ? On the other hand lets ask Indian muslims if they want to go to the other side.
Now I would like to know what do the Pakistanis want to talk about ?
" Says Pakistan is committed to a meaningful dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues with India" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So pls hold the dialogue with Kashmiri Separatists, whats stopping you?
If i had a dollar for every time, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, "warned", "sulked", "miffed" and "offered", i would be Nawaz Sharif.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Kashmir issue can be solved in one day. All Kashmiri Muslims have to do is to cross border into Pakistan and enjoy the security of life and dignity like any other Muslim in Pakistan.
The PM clearly does not feel that our foreign policy and our economic policy are important.
The sooner Pakistan knows and learns and formulates (67 years late) its own identity and ideology, the better and stronger Pakistan will stand. Also, Pakistan in trying to be the leader of the Islamic world will fail and is a failure (Ref Turkey, Iran, Saudi) and this concept of "brotherly Muslim Countries" is a total hogwash in world affairs. Between and among countries, there are only business interests, strategic interests, and geo-political partnerships. No brotherly or sisterly feel good fallacies work.
India should focus more on China and USA, rather than Pakistan. Pakistan will be even more frustrated and if Pakistan wants they have out with a proposal. This is important for India. Not to budge from its position.
Pakistanis are not living in fool's paradise to talk to India without having Kashmir on the agenda.
What is the fun of talking to India when the 67 years old dispute on Jammu and Kashmir remain as it is and Indian Security Forces keep on killing innocent Kashmiris and send its RAW agents to blast bombs at every nook and corner of Pakistan in which thousands of people have been killed.
John B. You are not a Pakistani, so you can never feel the pain of Pakistanis.
The current political climate in PAK and the Mr.Aziz's prior statements on the matter are not going to help PAK to brake the bread with India. The present national security advise concerning the matters with India are no more different than what it was before Musharaff's time. The PAK government is weak and it cannot deliver on promises without shooting on the foot. The talks on trade is a good way to move forward, but "No talks with India without Kashmir" is a dead slogan out of touch with time and does not reflect what is happening in India Kashmir.
Unfortunately, the PAK political parties in power and those that left power stir up the mass hysteria of "full Kashmir" (-watch Oxford Bilawal speech, which was not the position of PPP when it was in power). It is also the position of others, at least when they present themselves among PAK people.
BJP is not going to move forward without a tangible solution on Mumbai master mind, and PAK cannot deliver that since it will create the street protests.
The US is not going to budge from its position on the issue. If any, PAK is going to get a lot of pressure from the US to get the acts together. And the miscreants will cause mischief across LOC if Sharif government makes a good will gesture.
BJP invited sharif for inauguration ceremony, and that is the invitation for PAK. So, where to start.
Start with trade delegations.
What would you achieve in talks with India which you haven't so far in 60 years long talks? Haven't you ever heard "Latton Kay Bhoot Baaton Say Nahin Mantay"?
Go Aziz Go. Go Nawaz Go.
Sir! Please don't waste your and our time. We are over hauling our nation and aligning it to The Original Hindu Life from old books. It may take forever for you. But after we cleanse India from all non-Hindu signs we might reconsider your request. So right now please go back to your boss and tell him; We are not home! Just Hush Away!
When India don't need Pakistan, then why Pakistan should need India?
One can't clap with one hand.