NEW DELHI: Following the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia, last week, the Sharif government had to face a lot of domestic criticism about the lack of mention of the K-word in the joint statement, which gave a lot of space to addressing concerns about terrorism.
Commenting on it, Pakistan national security advisor Sartaj Aziz said both India and Pakistan have “agreed to revive” the Track 2 process “to explore ways of resolving issues that are lingering for a long time and need to be resolved in order to give peace a chance”. “Modalities for this track will be worked out through diplomatic channels,” he added.
Aziz described the July 10 meeting between the two PMs as “not the formal start of any dialogue process”, but as a way to “achieve an understanding that both neighbours must reduce tensions and hostility in order to constructively engage in a structured dialogue on all issues of bilateral and regional interest, including the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir”.
The Pakistan NSA reiterated Pakistan’s spiel on giving support to Kashmir.
“Kashmiris have suffered for three generations now. Their right to self-determine their destiny has not been granted. Pakistan has stood by the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif affirmed our principled position in clear and unequivocal terms during his annual speech at the UN General Assembly. We would continue to extend political, moral, and diplomatic support to our Kashmiri brethren,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit confirmed that invitation has been sent out to Hurriyat separatist leaders to attend Eid Milan on July 21.
India had in August 2014 cancelled the visit of then Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh to Pakistan after Basit met with Hurriyat leaders.