Terror most important agenda for talks: Farooq

In a statement later, Islamabad rejected what it called New Delhi’s “preconditions” for the talks.

Khurshid comes a day after Pakistan cancelled the NSA-level talks following an exchange of verbal volleys with the Indian Government over what would constitute the agenda for the talks.

He refused to share the contents of the dossiers about alleged Indian interference in Pakistan but displayed it to the media. Pakistan was referring to India’s decision last August to call off foreign secretary talks after Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit met leaders of the Hurriyat days before.

The Mirwaiz had said that Aziz could begin talking to Doval; he could meet the Kashmiri separatist leaders later.

He added that in the Ufa joint resolution, it was clearly mentioned that the talk would be on terror issue between India and Pakistan.

“It has been pointed out repeatedly that it has been a long-standing practice that whenever Pakistani leaders visited India during the past 20 years, they have been meeting (separatist) leaders”, Pakistan’s statement said.

It accused the Indian minister of “restricting the agenda” of the talks to only two items: creating an atmosphere free from terrorism and tranquillity on the Line of Control.

He said that India has always stood for maintaining good and cordial relationship with its neighbours and efforts in this direction would continue. Both Swaraj and Aziz left a window open though with the latter suggesting that there could be a meeting as early as next month at the UNGA in New York where both PM Narendra Modi and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif would be present.

The former chief minister also said Pakistan needed to realise how terrorism was affecting it.

He said there should be on terrorism but Kashmir should be on the agenda as it was the major issue between the two countries. Swaraj said on Saturday Sharif was under domestic pressure to pull out.

Sushma further said “That every dialogue or conversation has its own significance and value”.

“We deprecate the ham-handed manner in which several aspects have been handled by the government”, he said.

“Quoting Mr Aziz, all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kahmir, was a part of the “Composite Dialogue”, now a part of the “Resumed Dialogue”.

“I think the way forward is they can’t talk in this country or in Pakistan”.

“We only reiterated that Pakistan respect the spirit of the Shimla and Ufa (Russia) agreements”. “The understanding in Ufa clearly stated in writing that the agenda was decided”.

“India would discuss the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan after the issue of terrorism is resolved”, she told reporters.

Aakar Patel, a long-time Modi observer and the new head of Amnesty worldwide in India, said New Delhi’s position had been weakened. “To do so, they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues”.