Abdul Basit said Pakistan was confident of "overcoming this setback" after Delhi called off the diplomatic talks in Islamabad in a blow to warmer ties between the new Indian government and Islamabad.
Basit also defended his meetings with Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders earlier this week, a move that prompted Delhi to accuse Islamabad of interfering in its domestic affairs and cancel the talks.
"We believe Kashmiris are a stakeholder in this (diplomatic) process," Basit told reporters in the capital, explaining that the meetings with the separatists were a "longstanding" practice.
"We will not allow the process (of stronger ties) to be distracted in any way," Basit said, adding, "You will find Pakistan seriously committed to the process."
"There is no reason why we should lose hope of a strong bilateral relationship," he said.
Last month, the two countries scheduled talks between their foreign secretaries for August 25.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise move to invite his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, to his swearing-in ceremony in May spurred hopes that peace talks between the two countries could resume.
COMMENTS (24)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
ET, why did you censor my responses? I am a Kashmiri and my voice is important.
I just want to say that Indians try to portray Azad Kashmir as occupied, but we Kashmiris know the reality. Very few Pakistani soldiers are present in civilian areas, unlike India which is under full occupation.
I am from Srinagar, and we don't accept Indian rule. Pakistan is our friend and ally, and we love Pakistan. If a future Kashmir will be with Pakistan, that's no business of India or anyone else. It is the decision of Kashmiris alone.
Stronger Indian ties are only and only based on Pakistan's withdrawing from Kashmir's stance in other words if Pakistan leaves Kashmir and Kashmiri people's support from all aspects then Pakistan-India ties can be stronger.....
@Haider:
"Then why did 60% voting fell down to 43% in these elections..kashmir is common issue and is there first time talks were taken."
That is because the Pakistan supported terrorists issued warnings to voter that they and their families would be killed if they voted. Considering these ISI sponsored death threats, it is remarkable that so many Kashmiris still voted disregarding the death threats.
Indian ambassador in Islamabad should invite the Shia leaders from Gilgit/Baltistan and Northern areas for talks as they are also "stake holders".
Hopeless diplomatic actions of a hopeful government .... :-((
@Naeem Khan Manhattan,Ks: " ... What I don’t understand why you people are so afraid to have a plebiscite in Kashmir as promised by your own Prime Minister Nehru ... "
What I do not understand is why is Pakistan does not evacuate its forces from "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" and Gilgit Baltistan - as required by the very resolution you are quoting.
@Surjit Dhiman: Its no use explaining them...I've even published the original links of that Declaration but still they hold India as responsible for plebisicite not talking place
@Naeem Why don't you go and read the UN resolution on UN website. It clearly says Pakistan has to vacate first from entire kashmir which she had occupied only then plebiscite is possible. Simply obey the first condition of UN and then come and talk.
@ashok sai: What I don't understand why you people are so afraid to have a plebiscite in Kashmir as promised by your own Prime Minister Nehru in the United Nations, let the people of Kashmir decide what they want. If you point towards Pakistan" Baluchistan Province, I say it is not a disputed area as Kashmir is internationally. The world knows and has recognized the fact that Kashmir is a disputed State, and above all why you people won't allow world press in the Kashmir to let the world know what your security forces has been doing, they have killed more than 100,000 Kashmirs in the last 10-12 years. Can you deny that?
You just keep on hoping, my advice to you is that clean up your house and be strong and your strength will itself make peace. your adversaries will fish in troubled waters and India is no different or exception. When you are strong and united, India will understand your language because they won't have any choice then to make peace. At this stage and moment make sure that your are strong on your Eastern Border and retaliate any aggression and forget this nonsense of friendship and strong ties with India, India never was Pakistan's friend and never will be and from this premise you negotiate trade or what ever is in the interest of Pakistan.
@Haider: "@GP65 Then why did 60% voting fell down to 43% in these elections.."
Because of death threats. Already many elected people were shot dead by 'non-state-actors' pushed to India by providing firing cover which is what the ceasefire violations are meant for.
MEA : India, Pakistan only stakeholders on issue of J&K, no one else
This was the blunt message by India,no 3rd party whosoever may be is acceptable at any cost,either accept existing bilateral mechanism or stop talking forever on kashmir,in other word Shimla Agreement is binding and nothing else is relevant for India even if that mean putting the kashmir issue in back burner forever.
Kashmir cost you half of the country, placed you among top 10 failed states, etc
Continue to harp about kashmir and hold talk with empty vessels.
The role of ambassador is to bridge the divide between his home State and the State where he is posted. A person who is unable to address the sensitivity of the other Nation has no role to play as ambassador. Despite India's objection well advised to him in advance by Indian FO his going ahead of such meeting was unfortunate and inappropriate. To me he has lost all rights to represent his State in India. It is desirable that GOP will understand it and sou motto withdraw him from India, in best interest of both nations. The issue is whether GOP has that spine?
Dear High Commissioner, you can not have better relations with India by talking to separatists in Kashmir. Pakistani dirty tricks must stop before you can think of improving relations. Bring honesty into relationship. else things will go downhill much faster.
Now you know the rules of the game .... there are only two stakeholders as you would call ... Or may be if this happens again .. there will be only ONE ???
Mr Basit, You may consider APHC as the stake holders but India don't as there is a democratically elected government chosen by the people of the state whereas the former has never fought an election so far. India has made its stand very clear but if stick to your rigid stand, please continue your talks with them and solve the Kashmir tangle.
Have you read the Simla agreement? It says Kashmir is a bilateral issue. Anyway with a 60% voting despite boycott calls by Hurriyat in 2008, the preseqnt CM O,ar Andullah and not Hurriyat represent the voice of J&K people. As C, of am Imd ian state, he will be consulted by Indian group. This 'long-standing' practice is wrong and high time it was discontinued. Besides that, the ongoing ceasefire violations (11 in 10 days) were another bone of contention. The MFN status that had been committed to India in September 2011 in lieu of India withdrawing her objection at WTO to Pakistan specific duty waivers by EU are yet to be implemented even under its revised nomenclature of NDMA.
Actions speak louder than words and Pakistan's actions are not such that they promote peace.
Vacuous looking man making ridiculous statements. Also deputy commissioner Nawaz and his secretary Shahbaz are pen pushers now. How the mighty have fallen.