NSA-level talks cancellation: Other meetings may be affected

However he blamed the centre along with the state government for interfering with the NSA-level talks by holding up the separatist leaders ahead of their meeting.

The focus is now gradually shifting towards the scheduled talks between their paramilitary personnel set for September 6, where officials from the two South Asian neighbours are expected to meet in New Delhi to discuss the simmering tension at their border.

However, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Sartaj Aziz said Kashmir is among the issues that need to be discussed.

“While it was obvious that neither side wanted to be seen to officially call off talks, it was also patently clear that neither side was willing to do much to rescue them in Delhi“, the daily said.

After a lull of few days, Pakistani troops again pounded civilian areas as also the military positions in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir but no casualty was reported in the latest incident of ceasefire violation.

Pakistan’s national security adviser insisted yesterday that he was ready to travel to New Delhi for talks with his Indian counterpart despite a row between the arch-rivals over his planned meeting with Kashmiri separatist leaders.

She said the mandate for the NSA talks was to discuss terrorism-related issues and there was no space for the Hurriyat in talks, as per the Simla Agreement inked between both countries.

Swaraj was reacting to Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz’s remarks that he was willing to come to India for talks without any pre-conditions.

A statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office said the proposed talks will not serve any goal if conducted on the basis of what it called “preconditions” laid down by India.

Ironically, all that has happened in the process is that whether it was intended or not, the stature of Kashmiri separatist leaders has gone up. Pakistan wanted a wider agenda.

Pakistan however turned down India’s suggestion as “frivolous pretext” to back off from the talks.

Ms Swaraj claimed Mr Sharif was under domestic pressure to pull out..

Modi has struck a harder line since the July 10 talks, targeting Pakistan in veiled comments before a cheering audience of Indian expatriates in Dubai on August. 17.

The prospects of the long-awaited talks had been clouded in recent weeks by a series of militant attacks and border skirmishes.