BackNew Delhi seeks ‘result oriented dialogue’ on Kashmir, S Jaishankar tells Pakistan
Agenda before India and Pakistan is to put an end to cross-border terrorism and incitement to violence from Pakistan, foreign secretary S Jaishankar tells Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad
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India on Friday sharpened its diplomatic attack on Pakistan, identifying it as a source of terrorism in the South Asia region and not just encouraging terrorism in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Foreign secretary S Jaishankar, in answer to an invitation for talks from his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad on 19 August, said India was seeking a “result oriented dialogue" on the Kashmir dispute between the two countries, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told reporters in New Delhi.
“As Pakistan is aware the intended result at issue is the early vacation of Pakistan of its illegal occupation" of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Swarup said.
“As far as terrorism is concerned, not just India, but the larger region is acutely aware that Pakistan is the prime perpetrator," Swarup quoted Jaishankar as saying in his letter.
“The agenda before India and Pakistan today is to put an end to cross-border terrorism and incitement to violence from Pakistan," Jaishankar told his counterpart, according to Swarup.
“Foreign secretary conveyed his readiness to be available to engage at any time at mutual convenience on these issues. Justifying terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of India is hardly a serious basis for a result oriented dialogue.
“Foreign secretary hoped that the government of Pakistan will reconsider its approach, show sincerity in promoting good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence.
“This will also send a larger message to a region which is deeply troubled by the policies that emanate from Pakistan," Swarup quoted Jaishankar as saying.
The last comment by Jaishankar comes on the back of India accusing Pakistan of fomenting an insurgency in Kashmir, a charge that Pakistan denies.
Afghanistan also blames Pakistan for supporting the rebel Taliban to overthrow the Ashraf Ghani government in Kabul.
Recently, Bangladesh also pointed a finger at Pakistan for involvement of its Inter Services Intelligence in the Holy Bakery terror attack on 1 July.
Pakistan foreign secretary Chaudhry’s second invite to India to discuss Kashmir was dated 19 August and was the second in a week. In his latest letter, Chaudhry had invited Jaishankar to visit Islamabad by the end of this month “to discuss the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, with a view to finding a fair and just solution, as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and aspirations" of the people of the state.
India’s sharply worded message comes against the backdrop of verbal sniping between the two countries and unrest in Indian administered Kashmir that India says is fomented by Pakistan.
Almost 70 people have been killed since the start of the unrest last month following the death of Burhan Wani, who India says was a militant who belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen group, once the dominant militant group in Kashmir.
Pakistan’s description of Wani as a “Kashmiri leader" angered India as did its offer to send relief material to Kashmir, which has been under curfew for many days.
Pakistan’s observance of 20 July as “Black Day" to protest the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir as well as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement that Kashmir would be part of Pakistan did not help matters.
Home minister Rajnath Singh was greeted by protests over Kashmir when he visited Islamabad earlier this month for a South Asian home ministers’ meeting.
Pakistan’s offer over the weekend to send relief supplies to people in Kashmir annoyed India further.
That Pakistan has left no stone unturned in its efforts to internationalize the Kashmir issue has also riled India.
The sparring between the two countries comes after a seeming thaw in ties in December when the national security advisers of the two countries met in Bangkok and discussed terrorism and other disputes between the two countries including Kashmir, that has triggered three of the four wars between the neighbours.
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