With Pakistan offering a dialogue with India on the Kashmir issue, India — in a stinging rebuke that virtually turned down Islamabad’s proposal — said that while it would “welcome a dialogue on contem
With Pakistan offering a dialogue with India on the Kashmir issue, India — in a stinging rebuke that virtually turned down Islamabad’s proposal — said that while it would “welcome a dialogue on contemporary and relevant issues in India-Pakistan relations”, this includes “a stoppage of Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism”.
By this statement that the MEA put out on Saturday evening, New Delhi has amply made it clear to Islamabad that the issue of terror remains the top priority for India.
Later in the evening in what is being seen as yet another strong message to Pakistan that dialogue has to be linked to action on terrorism, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said India “cannot agree that dialogue with sponsors and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard” and that “addressing the terrorism challenge is central to engagement”.
In response to a statement by Sartaj Aziz, adviser on foreign affairs, government of Pakistan at a press briefing on Friday said that Pakistan would invite India for a dialogue on Jammu & Kashmir on which the Pakistan foreign secretary would be writing to his Indian counterpart, the MEA official spokesperson in New Delhi said, “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.” Ms Swaraj was at the launch of a book titled The Modi Doctrine: New Paradigms in India’s Foreign Policy which is a compilation of essays. “Perhaps our own people don’t appreciate deeply enough how much of an example we can be, especially on development and governance issues,” the minister said.
Our capabilities in technology, education or industry can make a difference to the growth of others. Even our inter-faith practices and resistance to radicalisation has a message for the world,” the minister said.
In a remark at a book launch later in the evening, Ms Swaraj said, “Among the issues that dominate global concerns today is the threat of terrorism. As you all know, 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 sponsors and supporters of terrorism should carry on without being linked to action in that regard. In fact, we have insisted that addressing the terrorism challenge is central to engagement. At the international level, we are also putting the spotlight on early conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Equally important, we have made counter-terrorism co-operation a key element in many of our bilateral interactions. I can share with you that this is having its impact.”
The remarks were made by Ms Swaraj was at the launch of a book titled The Modi Doctrine: New Paradigms in India’s Foreign Policy which is a compilation of essays. “Perhaps our own people don’t appreciate deeply enough how much of an example we can be, especially on development and governance issues. Our capabilities in technology, education or industry can make a difference to the growth of others. Even our inter-faith practices and resistance to radicalisation has a message for the world,” the minister said.
