NEW DELHI: In a blunt response to Pakistan’s proposal for talks on J&K, the government on Saturday said the country should first answer on cross-border terrorism and ‘parading’ of terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed.
In an official response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “India would welcome a dialogue on contemporary and relevant issues in India-Pakistan relations. At this time they include a stoppage of Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism, infiltration of terrorists like Bahadur Ali, incitement to violence and terrorism across the border, parading of internationally recognised terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin and a sincere follow up on the Mumbai attacks trial and the Pathankot attack investigation in Pakistan.”
Swarup was responding to a statement by Pakistani Foreign Affairs adviser Sartaz Aziz in a press conference.
Aziz has said that Pakistan would invite India for a dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir and a Pakistan Foreign Secretary would be writing to his Indian counterpart on the matter.
Pakistan’s latest proposal for talks have come after a month of exchange of provocative statements and heated reactions between the two arch-rivals in the Indian sub-continent.
Bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have been suspended following the terror attack on the Pathankot air base. After a strong protest from New Delhi following the terror attack, a Pakistani investigation team had come to India in an unprecedented move.
However, the efforts came to naught as Pakistani media later questioned the veracity of the evidence provided by India.