PM Modi Wants To Normalise Ties On His Own Terms, Says Pakistan

But Pakistan is unwilling to relent. Hours before the talks were to begin, Pakistan said the terms India said were non-negotiable – no involving the Hurriyat in the talks and to accept by midnight on Saturday that Kashmir would be off the agenda – were not acceptable.

Commenting on the statement of India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, he said that Pakistan desires to discuss topics during the adviser-level talks which it deems important. “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 advisor said.

The Indian FM said there is no scope for expansion of the agenda as there was no reference to Kashmir in In Ufa declaration.

Majority-Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan have fought three wars since becoming separate nations in 1947, two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule in part. This was the only agenda set for them by the two PMs. “The understanding in Ufa clearly stated in writing that the agenda was decided”, she said while stressing that Pakistan was violating the understanding.

“The operative part of the decision in Ufa was crystal clear”, said Swaraj in Hindi to reporters here.

Briefing newspersons, Aziz said he was still prepared to go to New Delhi without any pre-condition.

In past years, Pakistani officials had held meetings with representatives of the separatist group, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Now it is up to them (Pakistan)… Indian officials accuse Pakistani militant groups of repeated attacks and have called on Islamabad to expedite the trial of suspects accused in the 2007 terrorist rampage in the Indian financial capital, Mumbai. “Our advice to the government is to be cautious and by default do not help the Pakistan propaganda and in future ensure that what is agreed is endorsed by the establishment”, he added. “It would be inappropriate for India to now impose the condition of changing this longstanding practice”. During the meeting with Musharraf at the Roosevelt Hotel, which according to reports, lasted over an hour, Mirwaiz briefed Musharraf on his talks with Manmohan Singh. There has been a pattern to Pakistan’s actions after the Ufa Summit and today’s position is a culmination of that approach.

To a question, she said if the NSA talks are not held, then talks can be held again.

Swaraj said that any meeting between Aziz and Kashmiri separatist leaders before any formal bilateral dialogue would be “unacceptable”. “If they (the government of India) want to arrest us, they can”.

“Cancellation (of the talks) is yet to be confirmed from either side”. He said that demand of India that the guest list should be approved and cleared by it is not acceptable.