War with Pak not an option

As Pakistan and India gear up to resume talks under the renamed “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue”, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday ruled out the option of war for resolving disputes with nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan, as she announced her government’s decision to tackle terrorism-related issues through negotiations.

To a question in Rajya Sabha on whether India has raised the issue of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in global fora, Swaraj replied in affirmative and said government’s principled and consistent position on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been that the entire state is an integral part of India.

“But we want to make it clear, our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has made it clear that talks and terror can’t go together”.

“The prime minister said let’s talk on terror”.

Later in the evening, a delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) met Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and discussed Swaraj’s recent meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. For talks, we will have to put in faith.

The Special Assistant appreciated the services of Dr. T.C.A. Raghavan for his efforts to improve relations between Pakistan and India, during his tenure and expressed the hope that the incoming Indian High Commissioner would also work to promote cordial ties between the two countries.

“They held candid and constructive discussions. Yes, I approve of talks between the two countries but the nation is pained which an incident as this happens”, Raut added. Ms Swaraj said India had taken up on a number of occasions with Pakistan and also, where required, with the worldwide community its concerns regarding cross-border terrorism.

She said Pakistan had arrested suspects for perpetrating the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008 and a trial was underway in this regard.

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