India called off next week’s foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan on Monday, a day after Pakistan’s envoy penciled in meetings with Kashmir’s All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders in New Delhi.
The move – denounced by both Pakistan and Kashmiri politicians – has raised doubts about the resumption of trade dialogue between the two countries.
Syed Akbaruddin, India’s external affairs ministry spokesman, said Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit had been told that the move to meet the Kashmiri leaders would not be looked at kindly by India.
“It was underlined that the Pakistan high commissioner’s meeting with these so-called leaders of the Hurriyat undermines the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by Prime Minister Modi in May on his very first day in office,” he said in a statement.
At a time when India took ‘serious initiatives’ to move bilateral ties forward, including towards the resumption of a regular dialogue process, the invitation to ‘so-called Kashmiri leaders’ raised questions about Pakistan’s sincerity, he said.
The statement alleged that such a move showed Pakistan’s ‘negative’ approaches and attempts to interfere in India’s ‘internal affairs’ continued unabated.
“Therefore, under the present circumstances, it is felt that no useful purpose will be served by the Indian foreign secretary going to Islamabad next week.
The foreign secretary’s visit to Islamabad for talks on August 25 stands cancelled,” the ministry spokesman said.
Separately, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley also accused Pakistan of ‘deliberate’ LoC violations and said Pakistan and ‘powers within’ did not want ties with India to be normal.
“Earlier, it was only on the Line of Control (LoC) but now it is also on the International Border,” he told reporters. “It is obvious that Pakistan and the powers within don’t want the ties between the two countries to be normal,” Jaitley added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2014.
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@Altamash: Pakistan High Commissioner has met again with the separatists after the cancellation of talks.In addition there are daily cases of firing at the LOC.It does not require an Einstein to see that Pakistan does not care if the talks are cancelled or for tough speeches by Modi .If Modi had suspended the trade between India and Pakistan,it would have been a bold step.To Modi bakhts he can do no wrong
ET Mods, you allowed Syed Jalal Kashmiri to post hypocritical untruths. Please allow my post to him as a retort.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
"I am still waiting for freedom for my homeland, Kashmir, from Indian occupation, genocide, and oppression. UN resolutions support Pakistan’s claim that Kashmiri people are a party to this dispute. It has always been India’s policy to bully Kashmiris into silence, while they try to bully Pakistan to forget about Kashmir."
Very noble thoughts indeed. Now lets use your own good words to spread more of this message of compassion from the perspective of the oppressed Baloch:
I am still waiting for freedom for my homeland, Balochistan, from Pakistsani occupation, genocide, and oppression. UN resolutions on freedom and human rights support Balochistan’s claim that Balochi people are a party to this dispute. It has always been Pakistan'’s policy to bully Baloch into silence, while they try to bully Balochistan to forget about self-dtermination.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
"I am still waiting for freedom for my homeland, Kashmir, from Indian occupation, genocide, and oppression. UN resolutions support Pakistan’s claim that Kashmiri people are a party to this dispute. It has always been India’s policy to bully Kashmiris into silence, while they try to bully Pakistan to forget about Kashmir."
Very noble thoughts indeed. Now lets use your own good words to spread more of this message of compassion from the perspective of the oppressed Baloch:
I am still waiting for freedom for my homeland, Balochistan, from Pakistsani occupation, genocide, and oppression. UN resolutions on freedom and human rights support Balochistan’s claim that Balochi people are a party to this dispute. It has always been Pakistan'’s policy to bully Baloch into silence, while they try to bully Balochistan to forget about self-dtermination.
@altamash: Dear Mr. altamash, those are just few of many excuses to hear from Indian side just to avoid the resolve. It shows clear non-seriousness to harp about fictional and secondary matters instead of talking about the serious resolve by holding plebiscite. Kashmir's fate should be determined according to the will of people of Kashmir. Don't worry about three nuclear armed neighbors. Kashmir will only have existential threat from India (as it has so far), not from any other country in the world.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri: Dear Mr. Kashmiri there can never be "freedom" for Kashmiris as you describe it. If we were to take POK, Indian Kashmir and Chinese controlled Kashmir and make it one independent nation, would it be able to resist pressures from 3 nuclear armed neighbours? Even if we assume Pakistan will happily part with Kashmir under its control, how do you think India and China will react to it? There are much deeper problems with "azadi" for Kashmiris, but this platform won't allow for a deeper discussion on it.
I am still waiting for freedom for my homeland, Kashmir, from Indian occupation, genocide, and oppression. UN resolutions support Pakistan's claim that Kashmiri people are a party to this dispute. It has always been India's policy to bully Kashmiris into silence, while they try to bully Pakistan to forget about Kashmir.
I am proud of Pakistan and Kashmir that we have always been united together in our purpose for the common well-being of Kashmiris. Nothing can break this friendship and blood relation.
India is a tyrant, rogue, and oppressive draconian nation which relies on fear and intimidation of minorities, especially Muslims, to stay alive. A nation like this is bound to fall sooner or later.
UN resolution 1948 declared Kashmir as a disputed territory therefore INDIAN GOVT doesn't have the right to declare it as its internal matter.
I would request Pakistani Govt to call the Indian Ambassador and register a protest in a strong way.
Pakistan doesn't need to back off the Kashmir issue rather Pakistan needs to strengthen its position and stand strong on Kashmir Issue.
Calm down my Indian fellows - thats not how a democratic nation's people react..!! After all, its just a quick chat and not gonna take IOK away from you :)
India should abide by international law and implement UN resolutions on Kashmir, and stop human rights abuses there immediately
LOL, no papers worth reading in India?
@Pakistani: "It’s look like im reading any Indian News paper.. Are indians dont have news paper service in their state." Now that we are here, deal with it. Simple.
Indians and Pakisthanis speak. See Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwC1cSIsl8A
Pakistan has made a grave mistake by talking to kashmiris who survive on Pak mercy. It proves that Pakistan is not interested in serious dialogue but unnecessarily wants to create friction. It has violated Shimla Agreement that Kashmir dispute would be resolved through bilateral talks. Why Pak govt gave a new twist. Pathetic way of conducting diplomacy to score a self goal. India has the valley, the water, electricity and tourists. Rest of Kashmir would be with India once they see the development of J&K.
It's look like im reading any Indian News paper.. Are indians dont have news paper service in their state.
It is very funny to read about Pakistanis making a claim that Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan. Pakistan was never mentioned in Accession document. Just because Jinnah drove some wild pathans and occupied part of kashmir does not make it integral part. I wonder what Bangladesh is thinking about all this, I think they will also start claiming Pakistan is an integral part of Bangladesh and then kashmir as well.
The message is clear to Pakistan. Either you talk with us or talk to separatist Hurriyat leaders . Choice is yours.
The Pakistan that had a claim on Kashmir, if any, ceased to exist in 1971. Present day Pakistan is just a namesake and not the original founded by Jinnah.
@Bilal khan: Khan and all pakistani's that claiming on Kashmir is the integral part of theirs.. should understand that there was not a single word about pakistan in Kashmir accession docs. hens pak never stand even in picture...the agreement is btw Indian govt and Raja Hari Singh of Kashmir not btw India - Pakistan - Kashmir so paki's forget about integral part.
@All Pakistanis: voting in Kashmir is been held under cloud of terror attack by pakistani terrorists. people wants to support India but these terrorists ate threatening them of death. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Congress-Sarpanch-his-son-village-numberdar-killed-in-Kashmir/articleshow/34073361.cms http://www.jammukashmirnow.com/militant-threats-civilian-killings-attacks-on-polling-stations-fail-to-intimate-voters/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Another-50-sarpanchs-resign-in-JK-over-death-threats/articleshow/17109152.cms
and you say people of Kashmir are against India...
Wake up and accept thet pakistan itself wants to keep Kashmir issue burning... pakistan is the enemy of the peaceful Valley.
ET Publish this... Or I will take it as your fear of truth.
@zeeshan: There are more Indians here because there is a 750,000,000 strong Indian middle class which is predominantly under the age of 35. This group is aware and outspoken. In comparison, hardly 7,500,000 people in Pakistan belong to this category - educated, English speaking and most importantly with access to the Internet and dare I say, electricity! The sheer numbers mean Pakistanis can't match India at any level. Perhaps you should head over to Urdu press if you want only Pakistani commentators.
@deja vu: Osama was found in pak and Hafiz saeed also in pak ....n go Google in how every terrorist is trained by your Hafiz saeed perhaps he hv a PhD in terrorism after reading all decide which is Rogue country.
@zeeshan: That's the power of net. Now go deal with it. Can't? Get lost
@James: What is brilliant is it has put Pakistan in its place. You would be a fool if you think the talks are more important to India than to Pakistan. India, being in a position of strength is very happy with status quo. We have the land, the water and better end of the trade situation. Yes improving trade will benefit both the countries, but given the current situation it will benefit Pakistan much more and therefore the onus is on Pakistan to go the extra mile to ensure that talks take place. Modi government by calling the talks off has effectively told Pakistan that you have to stop these "long-standing" practices of running wht the hare and hunting with the hound. Got it, Einstein?
@deja vu:
My dear let us focus on our country first when we are economically sound and militarily strong then only we must talk about Kashmir. By such time me must forget Kashmir and focus on other burning issue. You know what I mean....By grace of allah we shall become a prosperous nation one day but we must focus on our internal issues first rather than wasting our energy on kasmir which was never with us and never will be with us if we continue like this.
We have gained nothing out of this Kashmir issue. May Allah bring sanity to my countrymen. we must move forward and focus on our economic development. We can never fight and take it and India being a bully will never give us on platter without fight. So let us focus on other more important issue which are plaguing my dear country and fellow countrymen.Amen.
During MNS's visit Modi has indicated that India does not appreciate his meeting with Kashmiri separatists as a precondition to peace talks. MNS complied with the request and did not mention Kashmir nor met with the separatists. How come Basit invites the separatists for talks when his boss refrains from doing so? Is this an instruction from the army as part of the foreign policy? Would Chinese be happy if US envoy meets with Tibetan dissidents in China or Indian consulate invites Baloch rebels in Pakistan?
This tamasha of Pakistani representatives meeting hurriyat has to stop. What has hurriyat to offer which it has not discussed with pakistan for so many years in so many meetings. This old senile geelani has not changed his mind and keeps harping the same issue. What can pakistan say to hurriyat in this umpteenth meeting exercise which is new. Therefore this chai-samosa meeting is to needle India and Modiji has to put a stop to this. Now hurriyat can meet Basit ali in a hurry or slowly. They can consume umpteen samosa and litres of tea.
@Indian: The entire world waited for over 2 decades for Pakistan to initiate a fair plebiscite but nothing happened. Then came an amendment to the UN resolution through Simla Agreement that from then onwards the two countries would settle their disputes bilaterally. So going back to UN. resolutions means insincerity of dispute resolution.
@Bilal khan: Since when did Kashmir become an "integral part" of Pakistan ? Pakistan has as much right to Pakistan as China has a right to Islamabad!
The ONLY legal and legitimate claimant to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is India as per the accession document. The UN recognizes this and that's why it calls for Pakistan to "return" its occupied territory back to India for a plebiscite.
Pakistanis should stop deluding themselves - you have to "beg" for talks because India gains "nothing" from talking to Pakistan - Pakistan hasn't even reciprocated on the MFN trade treaty that even small nations like Maldives have governments with the ability to reciprocate such trivial matters - so it is Pakistan that wants concessions from India and hopes to "gain" from talking to India regarding the Indus river water sharing treaty, the boundary issues, the issues of Afghanistan, etc.
@Altamash: What is brilliant about this move from Modi.After all the tough talk during the election campaign,this move is a damp squib.Talks have been cancelled in the past by UPA Govt only to be resumed later.These talks will also be restarted at a later date. If superman Modi cannot stop a group of separatists from meeting the Pakistan High commissioner on Indian soil,then how can he bring back Dawood Ibrahim
@Bilal Khan @deja vu you two have delusions of grandeur.
Answer to my Pakistani Friends : have you ever even dare to read UN resolution on Kashmir in 1948 or Shimla Agreemen
The resolution recommended that in order to ensure the impartiality of the plebiscite Pakistan withdraw all tribesmen and nationals who entered the region for the purpose of fighting and that India leave only the minimum number of troops needed to keep civil order. The Commission was also to send as many observers into the region as it deemed necessary to ensure the provisions of the resolution were enacted. Pakistan ignored the UN mandate, did not withdraw its troops
So, when Pakistan army leaving PoK ?
Come on atleast read books beyond what Pakistani literature give u .
bold and good move my modi govt.we have given so much freedom to this unwanted hurriyat. if it is china,these leaders would have been executed or jailed until now.
Next time there is such a talk.India must start bombing muslim occupied kashmir in pak..to liberate the people.
The current status of Kashmiris, specifically, the Kashmiris being represented by these separatist leaders,is that of Indian origin, which inevitably brings them under the Indian nationality, which ceases the argument of the IOK or POK....overall, Pakistan developed a more stable relationship under Gen. Musharraf, than even with the last Miya term, which had the advantage of Vajpayeeji....now, the focus must lie, on the fact that that, although, Miya has a lot of internal issues to currently handle, these occurrences are outside his domain to control, the future of Indo Pak relations, lies in the hands of khan Saab and mr Qadri..
Stuck over UN resolution and 1947? Which, by the way, would begin with Pakistan vacating Kashmir and now with changed demographic on both sides of the border, doesn't even read contemporary. Still if anyone goes back to 1947, some may like to go back a few hundred years more when there were no Muslims in Kashmir, or in Pakistan. Clear Kashmir of Muslims, if the faith matters so much. History can't be chosen selectively and at a convenient point in time.
Pakistan, you have a territory, big enough. India too have one. Lets begin from here.
@Usman: Remember it's the same UN that found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
@Usman: Wow, what logic sir! It was precisely that logic that led Bhutto to convince Ayub Khan to launch "Operation Gibraltar" in 1965... and the rest is history, punctuated particularly for Pakistan by events of 1971. With people with mentalities like this residing in a country, who needs any 'enemies' to defeat it? And as far as "disputed territories" are concerned, bear in mind that the entire so-called "Durand Line" is disputed by Afghanistan - something that carried on even with a Pakistan-installed Taliban Govt in the late 1990s...UN or No UN....!!
Word "ABRUPT" is wrongly used here, PAK wanted to talk with India not with group of opportunist peoples. Actually PAK abruptly changed its mood.
Brilliant move from Modi!!! Finally we have a government that means business. Next time this happens, we should send the High Commissioner back. Talks cannot be held without Pakistan falling in line viz-a-viz hurriyat. It's like the Indian HC in Islamabad inviting Baloch separatists for talks. We have had enough of this needling from Pakistan. strong text
It became imperative for India to bring this issue in public domain. Too much softness on part of India was not good for future talks and citizenry of both nations.
A good move.
Pak has no business interacting with Indian citizens on the sidelines & on the sly.
NS broke from past parctice when he came for the swearing in, this time round they were trying to rile India by speaking withe Yahoos.
This is not the UPA Pak is dealing with, the sooner Pak realizes it the better ( for them).
Umm, IOK is recognised by the UN no less as a disputed territory, hence there is no 'interference' as its not India's internal matter.
Forget about India Pakistan talks for sometime now. Modi tried his best to have better relations with Pakistan. However, Pakistan continues with her old habits. India does not have patience to deal with these old dirty tricks.
The rabid communalist like Modi was never going to back peace with Pakistan.
We have to support the Kashmiris (peaceful) efforts for the implementation of UN resolutions.
India is a rogue state.
Pakistan should not beg for talks. It's in mutual interest to have talks and peace. Kashmir is integral part of Pakistan and we have moved too far in appeasing Indians