India, Pakistan talks sink over agenda

The minister said the meetings plan had been agreed by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif when they met in the Russian city of Ufa last month.

Saturday, the government decided to cancel the planned meeting of national security advisers with India, citing New Delhi’s refusal to allow an expanded agenda and a meeting with Kashmiri leaders.

On August 17 previous year, India had unilaterally canceled the talks between the two Foreign Secretaries in Islamabad, as a protest over a meeting between the Kashmir leader and Pakistani High Commission in the Indian capital.

However, the meeting between the two national security advisors did not take place after India and Pakistan exchanged sharp words over the agenda of the talks. A statement released by Pakistan’s foreign ministry said- “Pakistan reiterates that the scheduled NSA level talks can not be held on the basis of the preconditions set by India”.

Pakistan’s decision to call off the NSA-level talks with India proves an old maxim for the people of Jammu and Kashmir: Whether the knife falls on the watermelon or the watermelon falls on the knife, it is the watermelon that gets cut.

While prospects of resumption of talks seem remote at this stage, the official said both countries would now use “backchannel” to sort out modalities before any future engagements.

“It is unfortunate that Pak has called off talks, India wanted to have talks”, he added.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Swaraj’s ultimatum by calling off the talks, saying the “preconditions” set by India were not acceptable and the meeting between the officials “would not serve any objective”, the New York Times reported. “Pakistan cannot expand the subject of talks beyond terrorism“, Swaraj told reporters in New Delhi earlier in the day.

Singh had yesterday said that India “sticks to its stand” that dialogue must be held only on terrorism at the Indo-Pak NSA-level talks.

“As far as India’s intention is concerned, I want to make it clear that it is in favour of having good and cordial relationship with its neighbour”, he said.

Aziz also said that while Pakistan has evidence of India’s involvement in militancy in his country, New Delhi has just propaganda against Pakistan. Pakistan was keen on discussing the dispute over Kashmir and meet with Kashmiri leaders. They fought three wars over the region, which is claimed by both countries.