Would talk to Pakistan only on contemporary, relevant issues: India

Virtually turning down Pakistan’s proposal that it would invite India for a dialogue on J&K, India on Saturday made it clear that it would talk on “contemporary and relevant” issues in Indo-Pak relations and at this time it included stoppage of Pak-supported cross-border terrorism.

"India would welcome a dialogue on contemporary and relevant issues in India-Pakistan relations. At this time they include a stoppage of Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism, infiltration of terrorists like Bahadur Ali."

“Incitement to violence and terrorism across the border, parading of internationally recognised terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin, and sincere follow up on the Mumbai attack trial and the Pathankot attack investigation in Pakistan,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He was replying to a question on a statement by Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at a press briefing yesterday that Pakistan would invite India for a dialogue on Jammu & Kashmir for which the Pakistan Foreign Secretary would be writing to his Indian counterpart.

“Our Foreign Secretary would formally be writing to his counterpart in this regard,” Aziz had said as he briefed the media about the Pakistan’s Envoys Conference held on August 1 -3 to deliberate on major foreign policy challenges of Pakistan and make recommendations.

At a separate event, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “Unlike in the past we cannot agree that dialogue with sponsor and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard”, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

“Threat of terrorism dominates global concerns today. It is an issue which has confronted Indian diplomacy for many years because of its cross border manifestation.

“Unlike in the past we cannot agree that dialogue with sponsor and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard. At the international level we are also putting the spotlight on early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism,” she said. 

Virtually turning down Pakistan’s proposal that it would invite India for a dialogue on J&K, India today made it clear that it would talk on “contemporary and relevant” issues in Indo-Pak relations and at this time it included stoppage of Pak-supported cross-border terrorism.

“India would welcome a dialogue on contemporary and relevant issues in India-Pakistan relations. At this time they include a stoppage of Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism, infiltration of terrorists like Bahadur Ali.

“Incitement to violence and terrorism across the border, parading of internationally recognised terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin, and sincere follow up on the Mumbai attack trial and the Pathankot attack investigation in Pakistan,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He was replying to a question on a statement by Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at a press briefing yesterday that Pakistan would invite India for a dialogue on Jammu & Kashmir for which the Pakistan Foreign Secretary would be writing to his Indian counterpart.

“Our Foreign Secretary would formally be writing to his counterpart in this regard,” Aziz had said as he briefed the media about the Pakistan’s Envoys Conference held on August 1 -3 to deliberate on major foreign policy challenges of Pakistan and make recommendations.

At a separate event, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “Unlike in the past we cannot agree that dialogue with sponsor and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard”, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

“Threat of terrorism dominates global concerns today. It is an issue which has confronted Indian diplomacy for many years because of its cross border manifestation.

“Unlike in the past we cannot agree that dialogue with sponsor and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard. At the international level we are also putting the spotlight on early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism,” she said.