New Delhi: India’s foreign secretary S Jaishankar has indicated his willingness to go to Islamabad for talks, but with certain riders. This strategic shift in India’s stance comes after days of sabre-rattling between the two sides on all kinds of controversial issues ranging from Kashmir to Balochistan.
Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary had invited Jaishankar for talks on Kashmir asserting that it is the “international obligation” of both the countries to resolve the issue. Jaishankar’s response was handed over to Pakistan by Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad Gautam Bambawale.
Official sources maintained that India’s is willing to discuss aspects related to cross-border terrorism which are central to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that Pakistan has no locus standi in addressing any other aspect of the situation in the state, which is an internal matter of India, except to put an end to cross-border terrorism and infiltration.
The sources said: “Since aspects related to cross-border terrorism are central to the current situation in J&K, we have proposed that discussions between the Foreign Secretaries be focused on them. We have also conveyed that Government of India rejects in their entirety the self-serving allegations regarding the situation in J&K, which is an integral part of India where Pakistan has no locus standi.”
The need for an India-Pakistan dialogue has been felt all the time, and even the United States of America has been pretty vocal on this subject. State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau has said: “Our position on Kashmir has not changed. The pace, the scope, the character of any discussions on Kashmir is for the two sides to determine. We support any and all positive steps that India and Pakistan can take to forge closer relations. We’re aware of the clashes. We remain concerned about the violence and we encourage all sides to make efforts for finding a peaceful resolution.”
With relations between the two countries taking a nosedive, government sources said Foreign Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to skip a SAARC summit of eight South Asian countries to be held in Islamabad next week. This could lead to further frostiness in the already strained ties.
