External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin announced that the talks which were to be held between the two countries on 25 August were being cancelled because of Pakistan’s ‘unacceptable interference’ in India’s internal affairs. ‘Our foreign secretary conveyed to the Pakistan high commissioner that Pakistan’s continued efforts to interfere in Indian internal affairs are unacceptable,’ said Syed Akbaruddin.
‘They (Pakistan high commission) were told that the meeting (of separatists) was unacceptable to us but they chose to go ahead with it. Under the circumstances, there is no use of sending the foreign secretary to Islamabad,’ he added.
The decision came after Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi on Monday evening. Akbaruddin said that Basit’s meeting with separatist leaders undermines constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by prime minister Narendra Modi.
He said this invite by Basit raises questions about Pakistan’s sincerity and shows that it’s negative approaches and attempts to interfere in India’s internal affairs continues unabated.
Meanwhile, defence minister Arun Jaitley after visiting forward areas of Punjab bordering with Pakistan, told reporters on Monday,’ It’s clear that there is deliberate ceasefire violation from Pakistan side. Earlier, it was only on the Line of Control (LoC) but now it is also on the international border. It is obvious that Pakistan and the powers within don’t want the ties between the two countries to be normal.’
Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan were scheduled to meet on 25 August in Islamabad to discuss a roadmap for dialogue. The decision to call off the foreign secretaries’ meeting also comes after 48 ceasefire violations - 11 since 8 August - from across Pakistan border this year. Modi began his tenure by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony but on 12 August accused Pakistan of waging a proxy, terrorist war because it was too weak to fight a conventional one.
The Congress criticised the government on the issue. Party leader Anand Sharma said,’ The government has been following incoherent approach in engaging with Pakistan. It is not a question of few Hurriyat leaders meeting Pakistan’s High Commissioner, the fundamental issue is why were the talks agreed to?’ His party colleague Manish Tewari said, ‘Government has a lot to answer. Was it not aware that Pakistan has been sponsoring terror in India when they invited Nawaz Sharif?’
‘They (Pakistan high commission) were told that the meeting (of separatists) was unacceptable to us but they chose to go ahead with it. Under the circumstances, there is no use of sending the foreign secretary to Islamabad,’ he added.
The decision came after Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi on Monday evening. Akbaruddin said that Basit’s meeting with separatist leaders undermines constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by prime minister Narendra Modi.
He said this invite by Basit raises questions about Pakistan’s sincerity and shows that it’s negative approaches and attempts to interfere in India’s internal affairs continues unabated.
Meanwhile, defence minister Arun Jaitley after visiting forward areas of Punjab bordering with Pakistan, told reporters on Monday,’ It’s clear that there is deliberate ceasefire violation from Pakistan side. Earlier, it was only on the Line of Control (LoC) but now it is also on the international border. It is obvious that Pakistan and the powers within don’t want the ties between the two countries to be normal.’
Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan were scheduled to meet on 25 August in Islamabad to discuss a roadmap for dialogue. The decision to call off the foreign secretaries’ meeting also comes after 48 ceasefire violations - 11 since 8 August - from across Pakistan border this year. Modi began his tenure by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony but on 12 August accused Pakistan of waging a proxy, terrorist war because it was too weak to fight a conventional one.
The Congress criticised the government on the issue. Party leader Anand Sharma said,’ The government has been following incoherent approach in engaging with Pakistan. It is not a question of few Hurriyat leaders meeting Pakistan’s High Commissioner, the fundamental issue is why were the talks agreed to?’ His party colleague Manish Tewari said, ‘Government has a lot to answer. Was it not aware that Pakistan has been sponsoring terror in India when they invited Nawaz Sharif?’