ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The advisor on the national security Sartaj Aziz has said that he is still ready to go to New Delhi for security talks with India without any preconditions.
“I am very disappointed that India has virtually cancelled the first ever official talks between the National Security Advisers scheduled for 24 August,” Sartaj Aziz said in a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday.
Sartaj Aziz said that the Indian attitude towards holding dialogue is disappointing and regrettable but Pakistan is committed under the Ufa meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian Counterpart Narendra Modi to make common effort for peace by holding serious dialogue.
The advisor said that three-point agenda proposed by Pakistan for the scheduled national security advisors (NSAs)-level talks in New Delhi was fully in line with the Ufa statement.
“The first point called for discussion on all issues related to terrorism. 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 third point was intended to explore the modalities for discussions on all other outstanding issues including Kashmir, Sir Creek and Siachen.”
The NSAs-level talks went in jeopardize after India expressed displeasure over invitation to Kashmiri separatists leaders by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for a meeting with Sartaj Aziz.
The Indian authorizes earlier today also arrested the senior Hurriyat leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Shabbir Ahmed Shah when he arrived at New Delhi airport for talks with Sartaj Aziz. The veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani also continues to remain under house arrest in Srinagar.
Sartaj Aziz said that it is regrettable that the Kashmiri leaders have been arrested by the Indian authorities prior to his visit. He said that it has been 20 years old tradition that whenever Pakistani leaders visit New Delhi they hold meetings with these leaders.
However, Sartaj Aziz said that despite the arrests of the Kashmiris leaders he is still ready to proceed to New Delhi to hold talks with an objective to move forward towards resolution of all outstanding issues for bringing peace.
