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No fresh India-Pakistan talks unless Kashmir on agenda: Pakistan
Sartaj Aziz, the national security and foreign affairs advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, says formal talks with India are impossible without the issue of Kashmir being on the agenda.
The national security and foreign affairs advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said formal talks with India are impossible without the issue of Kashmir being on the agenda.
His comments come after rare bilateral talks between Mr Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia last week.
Last Friday had marked the first meeting between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers in more than a year.
After a year of tensions, the nuclear rivals agreed to hold talks between their national security advisers. But three days after this positive development, Islamabad seemed to have changed its stance.
Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani PM's advisor on national security and foreign affairs, said: "So now, we are not going to beg or show over-anxiety about dialogue. If India now follows up on this with the next step of seeking a formal dialogue, then I can assure you that no dialogue will take place unless Kashmir is on the agenda. So that is our clear position in that sense."
Even as last week's meeting raised hopes of a thaw in relations, India said its forces foiled an infiltration bid by Pakistan into the Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. The incidents of ceasefire violations have been recurrent over the past one year, causing tension between both countries.
Last Friday's discussions between the nuclear neighbours had come after months of acrimony.
India called off diplomatic-level dialogue with Pakistan in August after Islamabad's envoy to New Delhi met Kashmiri separatists ahead of the talks. And once again, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India has invited the separatist leaders to an Eid party he is scheduled to host next week.
However, some security analysts say there is an opportunity for India if Pakistan wants the dialogue to hinge on the Kashmir issue.
Sushant Sareen, consultant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said: "Just discussing Kashmir with Pakistan does not mean abandoning Kashmir, nor does it mean discussing Kashmir on the parameters set by Pakistan.
"We will discuss Kashmir with Pakistan on our pitch, on our terms and I see no reason why we should not do it. So, if Kashmir is on the table, heavens will not fall."
Some analysts believe the turnaround in Islamabad's stance could be due to pressure within Pakistan over the absence of the Kashmir issue in the Modi-Sharif joint statement. However, they hope this development will not disrupt the peace process between the two South Asian neighbours.
No fresh India-Pakistan talks unless Kashmir on agenda: Pakistan - Channel NewsAsia
Sartaj Aziz, the national security and foreign affairs advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, says formal talks with India are impossible without the issue of Kashmir being on the agenda.
The national security and foreign affairs advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said formal talks with India are impossible without the issue of Kashmir being on the agenda.
His comments come after rare bilateral talks between Mr Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia last week.
Last Friday had marked the first meeting between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers in more than a year.
After a year of tensions, the nuclear rivals agreed to hold talks between their national security advisers. But three days after this positive development, Islamabad seemed to have changed its stance.
Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani PM's advisor on national security and foreign affairs, said: "So now, we are not going to beg or show over-anxiety about dialogue. If India now follows up on this with the next step of seeking a formal dialogue, then I can assure you that no dialogue will take place unless Kashmir is on the agenda. So that is our clear position in that sense."
Even as last week's meeting raised hopes of a thaw in relations, India said its forces foiled an infiltration bid by Pakistan into the Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. The incidents of ceasefire violations have been recurrent over the past one year, causing tension between both countries.
Last Friday's discussions between the nuclear neighbours had come after months of acrimony.
India called off diplomatic-level dialogue with Pakistan in August after Islamabad's envoy to New Delhi met Kashmiri separatists ahead of the talks. And once again, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India has invited the separatist leaders to an Eid party he is scheduled to host next week.
However, some security analysts say there is an opportunity for India if Pakistan wants the dialogue to hinge on the Kashmir issue.
Sushant Sareen, consultant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said: "Just discussing Kashmir with Pakistan does not mean abandoning Kashmir, nor does it mean discussing Kashmir on the parameters set by Pakistan.
"We will discuss Kashmir with Pakistan on our pitch, on our terms and I see no reason why we should not do it. So, if Kashmir is on the table, heavens will not fall."
Some analysts believe the turnaround in Islamabad's stance could be due to pressure within Pakistan over the absence of the Kashmir issue in the Modi-Sharif joint statement. However, they hope this development will not disrupt the peace process between the two South Asian neighbours.
No fresh India-Pakistan talks unless Kashmir on agenda: Pakistan - Channel NewsAsia
