Pakistan

Too early to speculate on timing of India visit: Aziz

PM's senior aide to meet his Indian counterpart in New Delhi, as agreed in Ufa by premiers of Pakistan, India

Web Desk July 17, 2015

prime minister nawaz sharif 039 s adviser on foreign affairs sartaj aziz photo reuters

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz. PHOTO: REUTERS

Amid escalating border tensions, Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said on Friday it is ‘too early’ to speculate about when he will visit New Delhi for talks with his Indian counterpart.

"It is too early to speculate on my visit's timing," he said, while speaking to the media regarding his visit to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval as agreed at Ufa.

Refusing to comment on India's reaction to recent firing on the border, Aziz said he does not want to ‘vitiate the atmosphere’ by commenting.

Read: Five killed in Indian BSF firing near Sialkot: ISPR

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modihad met in Ufa to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) earlier in July. Among other things, the two premiers decided that Aziz and Doval would meet in New Delhi in the near future to discuss ‘all issues connected to terrorism’.

Sartaj Aziz refrained from commenting when asked about the Indian Foreign Secretary Jaishankar's statement cautioning Pakistan of 'effective and forceful' reply to ‘unprovoked’ firing and cross-border terrorism.

Aziz called it ‘mischief’ to suggest that tension was escalating between India and Pakistan and could cancel his plan to visit to New Delhi.

Read: Pakistan Army shoots down Indian 'spy drone'

The premier's senior aide assured that Pakistan was working to reduce the tension escalating at the border. Avoiding commenting on India’s allegation that no drone was sent for spying in Pakistan, he said, "Pakistan Army will be in a better position to offer comments about it since the earlier information was also provided by it."

Read: Out of control: Opposition MPAs condemn Indian border aggression

On Thursday, five people were killed and dozens others injured as India’s Border Security Force (BSF) resorted to unprovoked firing along the Working Boundary near Sialkot.

The incident came a day after an Indian ‘spy drone’ used for aerial photography was shot down by Pakistan Army near Bhimber along the Line of Control.

The incidents took place despite an ice breaking meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia on July 10.

The article originally appeared on The Times of India

COMMENTS (6)

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @Babloo You always judge everything based on past....Atleast we are not saying we captured a kabootar or fired a boat of fishermen

Babloo | 9 years ago | Reply This reminds me of the great commando general, whose real war experience was little more than surrender and playing video games , started believing his own rhetoric and send his men, dressed as jihadis to capture Kashmir from India ! Few months later he was declining to accept the bodies of his men. Meanwhile the civilian government was asking India to provide details of the mess the commando general had created ! In this manufactured drone case too it seems the civilian government has no clue what its army is up to. So I dont understand the point of negotiating with the civilian government of the elected government just says we don't know , 'ask the army'.

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Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @Babloo What a baseless speculation....Army knows better....He doesnt want to say any comments which can further create tensions...Its done and dusted...There came a drone and destroyed by Pakistan....Then by seeing photos India claiming it a Chinese one and trying to avoid an insult......Next time do send pigeon

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @Babloo What a baseless speculation....Army knows better....He doesnt want to say any comments which can further create tensions...Its done and dusted...There came a drone and destroyed by Pakistan....Then by seeing photos claiming it a Chinese one and trying to avoid an insult......Next time do send pigeon

Babloo | 9 years ago | Reply Atleast we catch Pakistani pigeons. Pakistan seems to shoot down its mal-functioning chinese-made toys and claim to have shot down Indian drones. Is this how drono-phobia, after 10 years of drone-rule, look ?

Babloo | 9 years ago | Reply (tribune please publish this. I am just quoting your report ) Read carefully ..Avoiding commenting on India’s allegation that no drone was sent for spying in Pakistan, he said, “Pakistan Army will be in a better position to offer comments about it since the earlier information was also provided by it.” Does that look like a statement that trusts what Pakistan army said . He can't defend its allegation. The picture of the drone that you see in papers was circulated by ISPR. They should do a better job next time.

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