Ready to visit India for NSA-level talks without any preconditions: Sartaj Aziz
Pakistan is ready to hold NSA talks but India is making Hurriyat a condition, Sartaj Azizs said.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister’s advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz today (Saturday) stated that he is ready to visit New Delhi for National Security Advisor (NSA) level talks without any preconditions.
In his opening remarks while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Sartaj Aziz said, "I am very disappointed that India has virtually cancelled the first ever official talks between the National Security Advisers scheduled for 24 August. On 17 August last year, India had unilaterally cancelled the talks between the two Foreign Secretaries scheduled for 25 August 2014, in Islamabad. The reason for this regretful second cancellation if it is happening, would be the same: Why did the Pakistan High Commission invite 3 or 4 leaders from the Indian Occupied Kashmir to a reception organized in New Delhi on 23 August to enable me to meet a cross section of Indian political and business leaders."
He said the three point agenda proposed by Pakistan was fully in line with the Ufa statement.
"The first point called for discussion on all issues related to terrorism. The second point calls for reviewing progress on actual decisions made at Ufa i.e. prompt release of fishermen, better arrangements for religious tourism, and activation of mechanisms for restoring peace across the LOC and the Working Boundary. The third point was intended to explore the modalities for discussions on all other outstanding issues including Kashmir, Sir Creek and Siachen," he added.
The advisor said that India seems reluctant to recognize the sign of the most important statement in the Ufa agreement that says, "India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development. To do so, they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issue".
He the main purpose of the meeting was to reduce tension on the Line on Control (LoC) as there have been 70 ceasefire violations by the Indian side in the past one month and over 100 in the past two months.
He said as always, India has been conducting a part of its diplomacy through the Indian media. A major theme being played up in the Indian media is that Pakistan was apprehensive of the dossier Doval prepared for presentation to Pakistan during the NSA talks and was therefore looking for an exit.
“In fact, I will also be carrying three dossiers on RAW s involvement in promoting terrorism in Pakistan. If I do not get this opportunity on 24 August, I hope I will get a chance to hand them over to Mr. Doval in New York next month, if he accompanies Prime Minister Modi for the UN General Assembly. After handing over these dossiers to Mr. Doval, I can then also share them with the UN Secretary General ,” Sartaj Aziz said.
He urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ponder over the most important part of the Ufa statement, that it is collective responsibility to promote development and think of all ways and means to initiate dialogue between the two countries.
“We never expected this meeting to lead to breakthrough. The purpose was to reduce tension and to address each others concerns," he remarked.
He said: “It was a minimum agenda, so right now the cancelation of the visit leads to escalation of tension, that is not desirable".
Responding to Indian objection over scheduled meeting with Kashmiri leaders in New Delhi, Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan is very disturbed with the arrest of Hurriyat leaders.
“Whenever we go to Dellhi we invite leaders from both sides. For the last 20 years, every time our leaders went to India, they met Hurriyat leaders,” he clarified.
The National Security Advisor s remarks came a day after India warned Pakistan against meeting with Hurriyat leaders, terming the move "inappropriate".
The Foreign Office had responded with a statement saying that India s ambassador to Islamabad has been informed that it would not be possible for Aziz to follow the "advice" of the Indian government about not meeting the Kashmiri leaders.
