Pakistan made a spectacle of talks by holding meetings with 'secessionist' elements: Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been succinctly trying to improve India's bilateral ties with its neighbours took a tough stand on Friday against Pakistan. Modi who had a bevy of SAARC leaders at his swearing-in ceremony, said that he was disappointed that Pakistan had sought to make a spectacle of talks and went ahead and held meetings with "secessionist elements".

He was pointing at alleged meetings between the Pakistan High Commissioner, Abdul Basit and Kashmiri separatist leaders in mid-August. These meetings commenced despite a prior warning by India against it and Basit held meetings with Shabir Shah, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani. When India canned Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan in protest, all of them expressed disappointment. 

However Modi added, "India has no hesitation to discuss any outstanding issue with Pakistan within bilateral framework established under Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration."

He further reiterated the fact that India will continue to make efforts to build peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties with Pakistan. He concluded by stating, "But I might add that any meaningful bilateral dialogue necessarily requires an environment that is free from terrorism and violence."