Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, said on Wednesday that India was avoiding dialogue with Pakistan because it would have to discuss all core issues, including Kashmir.

He said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s logic about the suspension of dialogue process with Pakistan was beyond comprehension. He said that India was running from dialogue because it would have to discuss Kashmir and other issues with Pakistan on the table, reported Radio Pakistan.

Aziz said that both countries had a format of comprehensive and composite dialogue on issues like people-to-people contacts, visa and fishermen issues, trade and economic cooperation, Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek.

“The Indian Army has stakes in Siachen. Both governments reached an agreement on this issue last time, but the Indian Army rejected it,” the Radio Pakistan quoted the adviser as saying.

The adviser had earlier said that he was doubtful of progress towards normalisation of ties between the two south Asian rivals, and suggested that the situation be managed to prevent tensions. He had also credited Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for India’s failed membership bid of the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG).

In a recent interview, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that due to his diplomatic efforts, the world had seen India was not reluctant to engage with Pakistan.

“Our approach has created difficulties for Pakistan, and they find it hard to respond on the matter in the international community,” said Modi.

Modi claimed there were “different types of forces operating in Pakistan”, and asked rhetorically if one has to draw a line or set conditions for dialogue, will it be “with the elected government or other actors?”

After Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan in December last year, the Pakistani and Indian foreign secretaries were scheduled to meet to discuss modalities for the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue agreed upon during Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad for the Heart of Asia conference in December. However, the attack on an Indian Airforce base in Pathankot in January this year proved a big blow for any prospects of constructive dialogue between the neighbouring countries.