NSA-level talks cancellation: Other meetings may be affected

New Delhi/Islamabad, Aug 24: Fate of two planned meetings with Pakistan are now uncertain after National Security Advisors (NSA) level talks were called off by Pakistan amid a row over Kashmir issue.

Pakistan's NSA Sartaj Aziz was scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Aug 23-24.

The cancellation of NSA level talks were termed unfortunate by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh. He further said that the possibility of any future dialogue would depend on Pakistan.

Two other high-level meetings of officials had been planned to discuss border and ceasefire violations.

"We have already described the cancellation of NSAs meeting by Pakistan as unfortunate," a senior Indian foreign ministry official said on Sunday, referring to an earlier Tweet by the ministry. "Now, the fate of those other two meetings is also not clear... it will take a few days for some more clarity."

Last year, India cancelled talks with Pakistan because of a meeting between Islamabad and Kashmiri separatist officials.

Pakistan termed meeting Kashmiri separatist leaders a routine been a long-standing practice while India raised objection over invitation to them ahead of NSA meet.

The collapse of talks has raised questions about the two countries' willingness to overcome mutual mistrust.

OneIndia News