NSA level talks on conditions laid down by Indian minister won’t serve any purpose: FO

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The proposed NSA level talks between the two countries would not serve any purpose, if conducted on the basis of the two conditions laid down by Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Sawaraj, said a press release issued by the Foreign Office. While the Indian minister accepts that, to ensure durable peace between the two countries, there is a need to discuss all outstanding issues through a sustained dialogue process, started in 1998 as composite dialogue and renamed as resumed dialogue in 2011, she then unilaterally restricts the agenda to only two items: creating an atmosphere free from terrorism and tranquility on the LoC. Considering that many terror ‘incidents’ blamed initially by India on Pakistan eventually turned out to be fake, it is not improbable that India can delay the resumed dialogue indefinitely by concocting one or two incidents and keeping the LoC hot. It is equally important to recall that terrorism was always a part of the eight-point composite dialogue and it was always discussed simultaneously with other issues between the interior secretaries. It is not reasonable for India to now assume the right to decide unilaterally that from now onwards, other issues will be discussed after terrorism has been discussed and eliminated. The main purpose of any dialogue between India and Pakistan is to reduce tension and restore trust as a first step towards normalization. If the only purpose of NSA level talks is to discuss terrorism, then instead of improving the prospects for peace it will only intensify the blame game and further vitiate the atmosphere. That is why Pakistan had suggested that apart from discussion on terrorism related issues, the two sides should also discuss modalities and if possible a time schedule, for discussions on all outstanding issues including Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek, in keeping with the understanding of the Ufa statement. That is the only way to improve the prospects for peace between the two countries. The EAM's attempt to draw a distinction between operative paragraphs in the Ufa statement appears to be an after-thought to justify a position that is counterproductive in terms of the ultimate objective of reducing tensions and improving trust. As regards the second pre-condition regarding meeting with Hurriyat leaders, it has been pointed out repeatedly that it has been a long-standing practice that whenever Pakistani leaders visited India during the past 20 years, they have been meeting Hurriyat leaders. It would be inappropriate for India to now impose the condition of changing this longstanding practice. Pakistan, therefore, reiterates that the scheduled NSA level talks cannot be held on the basis of the preconditions set by India.