 "Ready to travel to India for talks without any pre-conditions: Sartaj Aziz")
Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz today said he is still prepared to go to New Delhi for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval despite a stiff standoff over including separatists in the talks.
"I am still prepared to do my part in NSA level talks without any preconditions," Aziz told the media.
At a press conference ahead of the talks, Aziz said the purpose of the NSA talks was to achieve calm between the two countries, adding that it is up to India to "decide on the talks. I still look forward to going to New Delhi".
Aziz also said that he was disturbed to hear the news of detention of Hurriyat leaders and said that it is a ‘violation of their fundamental rights.’
Pakistan's High Commission has invited Jammu and Kashmir's separatist leaders to meet Aziz ahead of his talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. India has advised against this.
The international community will have to "carefully ponder if it was possible for India to cancel the talks on such flimsy grounds... if the regretful cancellation happens".
Denying that the issue of Kashmir is a last minute addition to the talks in a bid to divert attention from terror that India is likely to raise, Aziz said that the 'K' issue was always part of the Ufa agreement.
"The 'K' issue was very much part of the agreement. If that is not to be discussed, then what else is there to discuss?, " said Aziz.
Further attacking India's position on wanting to keep Kashmir out of the talks, Aziz said, "India cannot wish away the Kashmir issue. If it is not, then why does India need to have 700,000 troops in Kashmir."
Denying that the issue of Kashmir is a last minute addition to the talks in a bid to divert attention from terror that India is likely to raise, Aziz said that the 'K' issue was always part of the Ufa agreement.
"The 'K' issue was very much part of the agreement. If that is not to be discussed, then what else is there to discuss?, " said Aziz.
Further attacking India's position on wanting to keep Kashmir out of the talks, Aziz said, "India cannot wish away the Kashmir issue. If it is not, then why does India need to have 700,000 troops in Kashmir."
He also said that they have prepared three dossiers on alleged activities of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) on its soil.
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Aziz told the media that he would carry the dossiers and hoped he gets a chance to hand over them to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.
This is being seen as a retaliation to India's dossiers on Pakistan's terror activities across the border and new found evidence that nails Pakistan's lie that 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim does not live in Pakistan.
This is being seen as a retaliation to India's dossiers on Pakistan's terror activities across the border and new found evidence that nails Pakistan's lie that 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim does not live in Pakistan.
Aziz is slated to meet Doval in New Delhi on Aug 24.