Willing to go to India for NSA talks: Sartaj Aziz

Islamabad, Aug 22: Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security expressed sadness over virtual cancellation of Indo-Pak security adviser level talks scheduled to be held on Aug 23-24.

He added he is 'still willing to visit New Delhi without preconditions', reported Dawn online.

Deadlock continues over NSA level talk between India and Pakistan over later's insistence to ignore Indian ‘advice' against holding a meeting with Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi on Aug 23.

"India had imposed new conditions on the security adviser level talks and added that, "We haven't formally canceled the talks. We will see what comes out of the situation. We are still ready to hold the talks. But without any preconditions," said Aziz while addressing a press conference here.

Talking about the 'virtual cancellation of talks from the Indian side' Aziz said, "India does not want the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan is concerned about the detention and arrests of Hurriyat leaders which is a violation of fundamental human rights."

"Pakistan wishes to resolve all issues with India on the negotiating table, but no serious talks with India are possible without discussion on the core issue of Kashmir,"said Aziz.

"We had agreed to discuss all outstanding issues and Kashmir is definitely a part of it."

Aziz said that, "Indian claims that Pakistan was trying to distort the agenda agreed at Ufa and was imposing 'new conditions' for the talks could not be farther from the truth."

He said that the three-point agenda proposed by Pakistan was fully in line with the Ufa statement.

Giving details of Pakistan's proposals he said, "The first point called for discussion on all issues related to terrorism. The second point calls for reviewing progress on actual decisions made at Ufa which included prompt release of fishermen, better arrangements for religious tourism, and activation of mechanisms for restoring peace across the LOC and the Working Boundary. The third point was intended to explore the modalities for discussions on all other outstanding issues including Kashmir, Sir Creek and Siachen."

Indian government had called off foreign secretary talks in August last years after Pakistan had "consulted" with Kashmiri separatists before the talks.

OneIndia News