Prime Minister’s adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on Saturday said that he was disappointed that the security adviser level talks between India and Pakistan had been virtually cancelled. The talks between India and Pakistan, were scheduled for August 23 and 24, fell into trouble after both countries reached a deadlock over Pakistan’s insistence to ignore India’s strange and unwarranted advice against holding a meeting with Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi on August 23. Aziz further said that India does not want the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan is also concerned about the complete disregard of even basic human rights by India which reflected in the arrests of Hurriyat leaders. He also urged the international community to take notice of India’s decision to cancel the talks on such baseless grounds, especially when the most important purpose of the meeting was to reduce tensions on the Line of Control and restore trust between the two countries by addressing each other’s concerns regarding terrorist activities by discussing on the table rather than through the media.
India needs to realize that the relations with Pakistan cannot improve until it is accepted that the Kashmir issue will be central to the dialogue process. India also has to accept the fact that they simply cannot keep the Kashmiri leadership out of the dialogue process. The Kashmiris have every right to be part of the dialogue process. It is unimaginable that the Kashmir issue can be settled without having their leadership on board. The tactics from India clearly hint at the country’s unwillingness to resolve the long standing issue of Kashmir. India’s continued aggression on the Line of Control is also a clear indication of its nefarious designs.
Canceling talks with Pakistan on such flimsy grounds shows India’s unwillingness to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
