Twitter
Advertisement

Pressing issue in J&K is ending incitement, India tells Pakistan

MEA sets agenda for foreign secretary-level talks.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Elaborating on its agenda for the possible foreign secretary-level meeting with Pakistan, India on Thursday insisted on focusing on the more pressing aspects of the Jammu and Kashmir situation that include cessation of cross-border terrorism, ending incitement, detaining and prosecuting terrorist leaders and closing down of terrorist camps rather the local unrest.

Official spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Vikas Swarup said in reply to Pakistan's offer for talks, foreign secretary S Jaishankar has conveyed his counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry that he accepts invitation to visit Islamabad. But, has made it clear that discussions must focus first on the more pressing aspects of the Jammu & Kashmir situation that include cessation of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan aimed at Jammu & Kashmir; ending incitement to violence and terrorism from Pakistan in J&K, detaining and prosecuting internationally recognised Pakistani terrorist leaders who have been publicly active recently in exhorting and supporting such violence in J&K; closing down of Pakistani terrorist camps where terrorists such as Bahadur Ali, recently arrested in J&K, continue to be trained; denying safe haven, shelters and support to terrorists in Pakistan who have escaped Indian law.

The foreign secretary has communicated that he looks forward to discussing with his counterpart the earliest possible vacation of Pakistan's illegal occupation of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, referring to PoK. Also, in his letter he has underlined the importance of bringing to justice all those guilty in Pakistan for the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008 and Pathankot airbase attack. Jaishankar said that his visit should provide the opportunity to receive a briefing from Pakistan's foreign secretary on progress in this regard.
Swarup said the Simla Agreement of July 1972 and Lahore Declaration of February 1999 have made it clear once and for all to settle all issues bilaterally, rejecting any scope for involvement of international organisations. He said President Musharraf in January 2004 had also committed not to permit any territory under Pakistan's control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.

On Baluchistan, whether this constitutes a policy shift, the spokesperson said India has made statements about the situation in the region in the past as well. "My own predecessor had commented on this issue. The only difference this time was that the various messages the Prime Minister had received had sufficiently moved him to share it with the people of India," he said.

Agenda for India-Pakistan talks set for FS level talks

(i) Cessation of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan aimed at Jammu & Kashmir.
(ii) Ending incitement to violence and terrorism from Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir
(iii) Detaining and prosecuting internationally recognised Pakistani terrorist leaders who have been publicly active recently in exhorting and supporting such violence in that state
(iv) Closing down of Pakistani terrorist camps where terrorists such as Bahadur Ali, recently arrested in Jammu & Kashmir, continue to be trained
(v) Denying safe haven, shelter and support to terrorists in Pakistan who have escaped Indian law

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement