Breaking the ice again: Pakistan accepts Indian invite for NSA talks

National security advisers of the two countries will meet in Delhi on August 23

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has accepted India’s invitation for talks between the national security advisers of the two hyphenated but hostile neighbours later this month to discuss issues related to terrorism.

“I can confirm that I will be travelling to New Delhi for talks on August 23,” Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said at a news conference on Thursday.

The fate of the crucial meeting was hanging in the balance due to the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed states. Relations between Pakistan and India have remained particularly tense in recent weeks due to repeated incidents of cross-border clashes.



On Tuesday, Pakistan summoned a senior Indian diplomat and registered a strong protest over the killing of a woman along the Line of Control (LoC) in one of the latest incidents of cross border fire.

The talks between the national security advisers are taking place as part of the understanding reached between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during a meeting in Russia on July 10.

The talks in New Delhi are expected to focus on issues related to terrorism. A senior government official told The Express Tribune that Pakistan has prepared a comprehensive agenda for the meeting.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Pakistan would raise its concerns over Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing’s (RAW) interference particularly in Balochistan and the tribal areas.


Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2015.