The Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan have been cancelled. The decision came after Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah met Abdul Basit in New Delhi this evening. The talks were scheduled to be held in Islamabad on 25th of this month.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh conveyed the decision to Pakistan High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit today. He said the Foreign Secretary conveyed in clear and unambiguous terms that Pakistan's continued efforts to interfere in India’s internal affairs are unacceptable.
Akbaruddin said that Pakistan High Commissioner's meeting with so-called separatist leaders undermines constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the invitation by Basit to so-called leaders of the Hurriyat raises questions about Pakistan’s sincerity and shows that its negative approaches and attempts to interfere in India’s internal affairs continues unabated.
The spokesperson said the only path available to Pakistan is to resolve outstanding issues through a peaceful bilateral dialogue within the framework and principles of the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.
The Pakistan High Commissioner's invitation to separatists for talks in New Dehi today and tomorrow evoked sharp reactions with Congress terming it as unacceptable.
Party leader and former Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid criticized the government saying it has no clear stand on Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Congress has said that government should clarify its foreign policy with regards to Pakistan. Reacting to decision to call off the Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan, party leader Rashid Alvi questioned how without the knowledge of government, Pakistan High Commissioner in India called the meeting with Kashmiri separatist leaders. He said Centre should take tough stand against Pakistan.
CPI leader D Raja said that the meeting between Pakistan High Commissioner and separatist leader is a serious issue and alleged that it was aimed at scuttling the Secretary level talks between the two countries. He said Islamabad should refrain from doing such things.
Meanwhile, BJP has welcomed the decision to call off the Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan saying terror and talks will not go all together. Talking to AIR party leader Sidharth Nath Singh said that the message is quite clear that ceasefire violation at LoC and meeting of Pakistan High Commissioner with Kashmir separatist leaders is not acceptable.
