NEW DELHI: India would have more ammunition in hand with the nabbing of a Pakistani terrorist alive in Jammu and Kashmir for the talks between National Security Advisers(NSA) later this month, even though Islamabad is still dragging its feet in confirming dates for the crucial meeting.
New Delhi has proposed that the talks between NSA Ajit Doval and Pakistan PM’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz could be held here from August 23-24. Sources here said that Islamabad is yet to respond to the dates suggested by India.
India had proposed them after the terror attack at Gurdaspur in Punjab, which was traced to Pakistan on the basis of GPS coordinates. It was the first major such incident in Punjab in over a decade.
Despite the latest attack on a BSF convoy in Udhampur and successful arrest of a Pakistani terrorist, there are no indications yet that New Delhi would be calling off the NSA-level talks. The talks are slated to be the first concrete outcome of the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at Ufa in Russia.
In a reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the government also noted that the talks between the NSAs would discuss all issues connected with terrorism.
When asked to give details about the agenda, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen(retd) V K Singh said India is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through peaceful dialogue under the aegis of Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration. “India expects Pakistan to abide by its January 2004 commitment not to allow its territory and territories under its control to be used for terrorism directed against India and for other anti-India activities,” said Singh.
He added that a “meaningful dialogue necessarily requires an environment free from violence and terror”.
India is readying a dossier on the recent terror incidents which have been traced to Pakistan, with the Udhampur incident latest on the list.