ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has termed postponement of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit a “collective loss” for all countries involved.
In an interview with India Today, the High Commissioner expressed hoped that Pakistan would host the 19th summit in future.
“We are confident that Pakistan will host the 19th summit Ä if not this year, then sometime next year,” Basit said.
Abdul Basit rejected Indian claims of a ‘surgical strike’ across the Line of Control (LoC).
“As far as the government of Pakistan is concerned, there was no surgical strike whatsoever, otherwise they would have responded immediately,” he said.
He dismissed the claim of a ‘video evidence’, saying “There can’t be any video … Because the surgical strike did not take place.”
“No surgical strike across the LoC was conducted in the dark hours of September 29,” he said.
About investigation into the Uri attack, Basit said, “We would like to get out of this blame game, so why not get an international investigation into this incident?”
He said by blaming Pakistan, India was leaving no room for cooperation.
“You did not leave any room for cooperation. When you start blaming Pakistan and terming us as a terrorist state, you are closing all the doors for cooperation,” he said.
“If India believes Pakistan has done it then the best way forward would be to have an international probe.”
The High Commissioner with commencement of dialogue process, resolution of issues could be taken forward.
“When we’re not talking to each other, then this cooperation is not possible,” Basit said, adding that Pakistan’s investigation into the Pathankot air base attack was ongoing.
When questioned about Balochistan, Basit said, “The people of Balochistan are as patriotic as people in other parts of Pakistan but we do have worries because there is a larger question of a foreign agenda of destabilizing Pakistan,” he said.
“You would recall that earlier this year we arrested a man alled Kulbhushan Yadav, and that corroborated what Pakistan has been saying all along. So to that extent, we are worried… Some forces are trying to undermine Pakistan,” he added.
