'India never shied away from engagement with Pakistan'

MEA spokesperson's statement comes as Aziz said India was finding excuses to avoid resuming dialogue with Pakistan

In an apparent response to the remarks made by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, India has said it never shied away from engagement with Pakistan.

“India is prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan bilaterally, in an atmosphere which is free from terror and violence,” spokesperson for India’s ministry of external affairs, Vikas Swarup, was quoted as saying by ANI.

LIVE NOW!
Watch the media briefing by official spokesperson of @MEAIndiahttps://t.co/tVcf9O5nsL

— Indian Diplomacy (@IndianDiplomacy) July 1, 2016

India is prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan bilaterally in an atmosphere which is free from terror and violence: MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

Aziz on Thursday had said India was finding excuses to avoid resumption of a structured dialogue with Pakistan on all issues, including the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

“This old narrative is not a very good excuse to avoid meaningful engagement,” said Aziz while responding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that “it was hard to decide who to speak to about peace in Islamabad implying that the civil and military leadership was not on the same page vis-à-vis relationship with New Delhi.”

Swarup claimed his country’s foreign secretary was prepared in  January this year to hold initial discussion on modalities of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue with his Pakistani counterpart.

FS was prepared in first half of Jan this year to hold initial discussion on modality of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue(with Pak): MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

However, he added, the attack Pathankot airbase put the dialogue process on the backburner. “Now we await complete investigation on the Pakistani side.”

But after Pathankot attack, now we await complete investigation on the Pakistani side: MEA on Indo-Pak talks. pic.twitter.com/u3k4a4HY5u

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

Regarding Mumbai terror attack case, Swarup said Indian government was committed to providing cooperation to Pakistan.

“We remain committed to providing cooperation to Pak in terms of expediting Mumbai terror case trial & bring all perpetrators to justice,” he said.

We remain committed to providing cooperation to Pak in terms of expediting Mumbai terror case trial & bring all perpetrators to justice: MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

We keep hearing in media abt so called list of 24 witnesses required by Pak, but so far we haven't received any communication from Pak: MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

The MEA spokesperson denied reports that Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Syed had written a letter to his Indian counterpart.



“Pakistan’s foreign affairs spokesperson has claimed that their foreign secretary has written to our foreign secretary. No fresh letter has been received in this regard.”

Pak foreign affairs spokesperson has claimed that their FS has written to our FS. No fresh letter has been received in this regard: MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

In response to the question on the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav from Balochistan, Swarup said India had at times sought consular access to Yadav which was not granted.

We have repeatedly sought consular access to Kulbhushan Yadav, we believe the circumstances under which he was abducted remains unclear: MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016

To me, it appears that Pakistan by not giving us access is a way of showing that they have something to hide: Vikas Swarup, MEA

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2016