Historically SAARC as a regional organization has under-delivered, but it keeps providing chances as forum in which the bilateral Pak-India relationship can be discussed if the governments of the two countries desire. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Islamabad next week to attend a meeting of SAARC interior ministers. But India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said that Indian Home Minister will not be conducting any bilateral meetings with his Pakistani counterparts during the visit. Such negative statements give clear hint before the talks that discussions are not going to pave the way for any positive outcome. At such a time when both neighbor countries are not at best of their bilateral relations, separate meeting of both counterparts could has been vital to talk on various conflicting issues including cooperation on counterterrorism and mutual assistance in criminal matters. Recently unrest in Indian held Kashmir and atrocities against unarmed protesters by India once again has sparked tension between the two countries. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in unusually direct and undiplomatic terms and the Pakistani foreign policy establishment has been in overdrive to try and bring international attention to the protests and violence in India-held Kashmir. On the other side, Sartaj Aziz while responding Swaraj said that fate of Kashmir will be decided only by Kashmiris and atrocities in disputed land would be highlighted worldwide. Both countries have fought wars and usually relations remained tense between them. India should show flexibility to talks on all bilateral issues with Kashmir on top of agenda to make south Asia a peaceful region. <strong>Indulging in negotiations to find peaceful solution of Kashmir is only way forward for peaceful region. </strong> <strong> </strong> <strong> </strong>
