End incitement of violence in Kashmir, India tells Pak

In keeping with the Modi government’s aggressive line against Pakistan which proposed Foreign Secretary-level talks with India on Kashmir, India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar has said 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 (PoK). 

In a letter of August 16 to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary, Dr. Jaishankar said that India has summarily rejected in their entirety Pakistan’s self-serving allegations made in its communication. At his weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Foreign Secretary conveyed that he accepts his counterpart’s invitation to visit Islamabad but made it clear that naturally, the discussions should 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 the State, detaining and prosecuting internationally recognised Pakistani terrorist leaders who have been publicly active recently in exhorting and supporting such violence in that state, closing down of Pakistani terrorist camps where terrorists such as Bahadur Ali, recently arrested in Jammu & Kashmir, continue to be trained and denying safe haven, shelters and support to terrorists in Pakistan who have escaped Indian law.

The spokesperson maintained that Pakistan has no locus standi in respect of Jammu & Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. He said the world is aware that Pakistan has a long history of violence and terrorism against India, as also in the broader region. The Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir has been its particular target.  This record began with Pakistan sending armed raiders into Jammu & Kashmir in 1947 and was repeated in 1965.  

More than three decades later, displaying a similar attitude, military personnel were infiltrated across the Line of Control in Kargil in 1999.  This approach to India was reflected in support for terrorist activities in Jammu & Kashmir that continues to the present day.  These acts were initially denied by  the Government of Pakistan and attributed to local population, only to be admitted later by Pakistan’s leaders who directed and organised such cross-border attacks on India, and assaults on the local people.

Reminding it of Simla Agreement, India said the Pakistani Government is aware of the framework for interactions between the two countries under the agreement wherein President Z.A. Bhutto had agreed that India and Pakistan resolve to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations, as also the Lahore Declaration of February 1999 wherein Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s determination to implement the Simla Agreement in letter and spirit.  They are also based on the assurance given by President Musharraf in January 2004 that he will not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.

Keeping this in mind,  Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed his acceptance to visit Islamabad but clarified that talks should first focus on cross-border terrorism. He also underlined the importance of bringing to justice all those guilty in Pakistan for the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008 and Pathankot airbase attack.  He said that his visit should provide the opportunity to receive a briefing from Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary on progress in this regard.