Pak envoy's meet with separatists undermined constructive engagement: Govt

New Delhi, Dec 3: Pakistan envoy's meeting with separatist leaders here had undermined the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by India in May because of which Foreign Secretary talks had to be cancelled, government said today days after Pakistan questioned India's decision. India also made it clear that an environment free from violence and terrorism is necessary for meaningful dialogue with Pakistan.

"It was conveyed to Pakistan in clear and unambiguous terms that efforts to interfere in India's internal affairs were unacceptable and undermined the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by government in May 2014," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

In reply to another question, he said government remains committed to establishing good and neighbourly ties with Pakistan and resolving all outstanding issues through a bilateral dialogue as envisaged under the Simla Agreement.

"There is no role whatsoever for a third party," the minister said in his reply. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had last week said India should not have cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks, insisting there was "nothing new" in consulting Kashmiri leaders ahead of a dialogue.

"We had been talking to the Kashmiri leaders in the past whenever Pakistan-India talks were held. This is nothing new as we have to seek the opinion of the Kashmiri leaders on an issue that concerns them the most," Sharif had said.

In reply to another question on linking old network routes with China, Singh said the government of India has noted the Chinese initiative of Maritime Silk Road, a channel of vibrant trade in the region and beyond that and shared its age-old wisdom with societies along these routes.

In another reply, the Minister said the draft resolution moved by India at the United Nations General Assembly to declare June 21 as the international day of Yoga had 167 co-sponsors as on November 27.

PTI