NEW DELHI: INDIA has reiterated its position to put cross-border terrorism and vacation of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) on the agenda for talks with Pakistan. Islamabad had earlier chosen to ignore the agenda points enumerated by the Indian foreign secretary.
The latest letter by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is in response to Pakistan’s invite dated August 19. Pakistan wants the talks to be centred on Kashmir, alleged human rights violations in the Valley and the ongoing unrest. Sources said the foreign secretary, in his recent letter, contended that cross-border terrorism needs to be addressed in the talks as it poses a ‘regional security’ threat. Earlier, the top diplomat had written to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary on August 16 putting forward five points for talks between the two arch rivals.
Jaishankar had sought “the cessation of cross-border terrorism at Jammu and Kashmir; ending incitement to violence in the state; detaining and prosecuting internationally recognised Pakistani terrorists who have been publicly active in exhorting violence; closing down of Pakistani terror camps”.