Basit to make 'courtesy call' to Indian foreign secretary in bid to revive talks

Dialogue was suspended last year after the high commissioner met with Hurriyat leaders


February 07, 2015
File photo of Pakistan High Commisioner Abdul Basit . PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit will call on the new Indian Foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar, next week to discuss the possibility of resuming bilateral dialogue, the Economic Times reported on Saturday.

Dialogue between the countries was suspended last year after the high commissioner’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders.

According to sources, Basit is set to make a ‘courtesy call’ to the new foreign secretary. However, they believe that talks between the two countries could be revived on Jaishankar's advice to the Indian government.

The report added that a fresh round of dialogue between India and Pakistan could start once the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party form the government in Indian-administered Kashmir. Some members of the PDP are allegedly in favour of dialogue with Pakistan.

Pakistan’s former national security adviser Major General (retd) Mahmud Durrani also met NSA Ajit Kumar Doval and Jaishankar this week and may have brought a message from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to a source privy to the development. Durrani’s meetings, sources believe, could have been efforts to normalize relations between the neighbouring countries.

Both Indian officials and Pakistan High Commussion dismissed the Durrani’s meeting as a move to revive dialogue.

COMMENTS (13)

Jatin | 9 years ago | Reply @Asad Khan: Hi my new friend from Mars... Nobody needs your twisted schooling ideas... Just look around who is the epic failure... You get into somebody else's house kill his 2 children, convert others and claim the house belongs to you... we will get back what is ours... DJ da promise
John B | 9 years ago | Reply @Asad Khan: "Game On"- your answers and opinions are repulsive. Please look at the population statistics of J&K and think what type of solution is good for all. GoI forces rescued all in J&K , including those in PoK who came under their care, that included some politicians, during the recent flood, whereas PAK ghariat refused India offer of help and caused misery to the people of PoK. Living in your comfort zone it may be a game to you, but not to those who are caught between the radical islamists and the state law and order machinery. Here is a snippet to show how the involvement of PAK in Kashmir has reduced the people of PoK into thinking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHQtUazVUqM&feature=youtubegdataplayer Near the end of the clip, an old man says that they (India) even rescued us. His thinking was reduced to the state of not being a native of the place, and that is sad. I am not sure what his religion is, but it is those type of people who really matter. What kind of future do you want his grand children to have and where will they get it? From the solutions of your view? Think beyond your religion, ethnicity, or national boundary which the British gave and you are fighting over it.
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