Aziz says Delhi meetup surpassed expectations

We want to have good relations with Pakistan but this can be successful only if terrorism ends, said Sushma Swaraj.

ISLAMABAD: With criticism abound on the prime minister’s recent visit to India, Islamabad on Wednesday rebuffed media speculation that Narendra Modi had handed over any ‘charge sheet’ on the issue of terrorism.

Talking about the landmark visit, Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz reiterated that the visit was successful and surpassed expectations.

His statement comes after some religious and political parties termed the visit a ‘futile exercise,’ accusing Modi of embarrassing Pakistan by raising the spectre of terrorism.

Sources in the India media reported that the meeting went beyond its mandate of a courtesy call after Modi urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to allow Pakistan’s territory to be used for launching terror attacks against India.

In an official briefing, the Indian foreign secretary confirmed that the speedy trial of alleged planners involved in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks was also brought forward during the meeting.

However, speaking to reporters at a news conference, Aziz attempted to down play the development by insisting that the demand for an expeditious trial of Mumbai accused was an old demand.

“There was nothing new in it. We have informed them the law will take its course,” the advisor said.

Aziz, who was flanked by PM’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatimi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, said terrorism was a common challenge and both Nawaz and Modi agreed to fight it jointly.

Replying to a question on why the prime minister had not raised the Kashmir issue, Aziz said the premier had gone to New Delhi for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. “But that does not mean the issue of Kashmir has been sidelined,” he added.

He maintained that durable peace was not possible without the resolution of Kashmir dispute. He added that the decision to attend the inauguration ceremony was based on strategic calculations and not just to generate a photo session.

“In order to make this vision a reality the starting point of talks with the Indian leadership was economic revival and development,” he remarked. He further said a robust economic agenda which was priority of both the governments could not be advanced without peace in the region.

Nawaz and Modi therefore agreed that they have the mandate and their respective tenures ahead of them to meet the hopes and aspirations of one and a half billion peoples of the two countries, he said.

He said the foreign secretaries of the two countries would meet soon to discuss the way forward. The two secretaries would review the bilateral agenda of talks and that both sides have agreed to convert confrontation into meaningful cooperation.

Sushma’s stance

After being sworn in as India’s new Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj made positive statements about India’s engagement with all countries, but added that cross border terrorism had to stop before talks with Pakistan could be resumed.

“We want to have good relations with Pakistan but this can be successful only if terrorism ends. If the voices in our conversation are drowned by the sound of bombs, then the voice of neither nation will be heard – this is what our prime minister told the prime minister of Pakistan.”

Considered a BJP hardliner and party stalwart, Sushma previously held a number of key positions in cabinet including Union Minister for Health and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Telecommunication.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.