PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD: Noting the pre-conditions set forth by Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Sawaraj for the proposed national security adviser level talks, the foreign office said on Saturday evening that such a dialogue cannot be held.
According to a statement released by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan had carefully analysed contents of the Sawaraj’s press conference.
“We have come to the conclusion that the proposed NSA level talks between the two countries would not serve any purpose, if conducted on the basis of the two conditions laid down by the minister.”
Read: Ready to visit New Delhi without any preconditions: Aziz
Foreign office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said that while Sawaraj had admitted that talks on all outstanding issues were key to durable peace between the two countries, but then had unilaterally restricted the agenda to only two items: creating an atmosphere free from terrorism and tranquility on the LoC.
“Considering that many terror “incidents” blamed initially by India on Pakistan eventually turned out to be fake, it is not improbable that India can delay the Resumed Dialogue indefinitely by concocting one or two incidents and keeping the LoC hot.”
Rejecting Sawaraj’s assertions on keeping the agenda strictly to terrorism, he contended that terrorism had always been part of the eight point composite dialogue, being discussed simultaneously with other issues between the interior secretaries. “It is not reasonable for India to now assume the right to decide unilaterally that from now onwards, other issues will be discussed after terrorism has been discussed and eliminated.”
Read: India says no peace talks with Pakistan if Hurriyat leaders involved
Khalilullah said that the main purpose of any dialogue between India and Pakistan is to reduce tensions and restore trust as part of normalization of ties. He argued that if the only purpose of NSA level talks was to discuss terrorism, then instead of improving the prospects for peace it will only intensify the blame game and further vitiate the atmosphere.
“That is why Pakistan had suggested that apart from discussion on terrorism related issues, the two sides should also discuss modalities and if possible a time schedule, for discussions on all outstanding issues including Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek, in keeping with the understanding of the Ufa statement. That is the only way to improve the prospects for peace between the two countries.”
On the pre-conditions over meeting with Hurriyat leaders, the spokesperson said that it was inappropriate for India to now impose the condition of changing what had been a longstanding practice for the past 20 years.
“Pakistan, therefore, reiterates that the scheduled NSA level talks cannot be held on the basis of the preconditions set by India.”
India denies setting pre-conditions to talks
Shortly after the statement from the foreign office, the spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs denied that they had set up preconditions to the talks.
Pakistan's decision is unfortunate. India did not set any preconditions.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2015
We only reiterated that Pakistan respect the spirit of the Simla & Ufa Agreements to which it was already committed.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2015
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