NEW DELHI: The hotline between India and Pakistan has fallen silent due to the neighbouring country’s intransigent position on the Kashmir issue. There has been an established communication channel between the foreign secretaries of the two countries to avoid any miscalculations of a developing situation.
As far as telephonic talks between foreign secretaries of the two countries were concerned, Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said “new dynamics are at play”. He was replying to a question if the two secretaries were still in touch. “…. unless you are living under a rock, you cannot be oblivious to it,” Swarup added. Another MEA official said: “At a time when Pakistan is making proactive statements, one cannot suddenly pick up phone to make small talk.”
In the most recent provocation, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has written a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to take action against the alleged human rights violations committed by the Indian security forces in the Kashmir Valley.
“Pakistan has no locus standi in addressing any aspect of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is an internal matter of India, except to put an end to all cross- border terrorism, infiltration and support and instigation to terror and violence against India. … Let me also say it does not matter how many letters are written, it will still not whitewash cross-border terrorism,” Swarup said reiterating India’s position on the matter. The arrest of Laskar-e-Toiba terrorist Bahadur Ali is another proof that Pakistan is still complicit in encouraging the cross-border terrorism against India, he said.
“Bahadur Ali has revealed how his Pakistani handlers gave him instructions to mix with the local people, create disturbances and attack police and security forces. His confession proves that the LeT is sending its cadre in connivance with Pakistani security forces, to fuel large-scale agitation in Kashmir.
“Pakistan now stands completely exposed. We have already taken up the matter bilaterally with Pakistan, including our offer to provide consular access to this Pakistani terrorist,” Swarup said. Commenting on the recent terror attacks in Pakistan including in Quetta where a group of lawyers was decimated, Swarup said that there was “no good or bad terrorism.”