Taking a different stand from outgoing Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on India-Islamabad relationship, the defence experts on Sunday said that their neighbour should stop it attacks on Kashmir for bilateral talks to take place.
"If they are serious about peace and dialogue with India, they should, by all means, establish peaceful conditions in Kashmir and stop their attacks. They have to do this. It is a precondition," N.N. Jha told ANI.
Defence expert P.K. Saihgal laughed off Basit's remark, saying that since he is finishing his tenure, he is making pious statements essentially to be playing to the gallery.
"He is saying exactly the same thing that has been said for so long, however in a saner and a little more level-headed manner. He still talks about aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which means independence for them or merger with Pakistan. India must laugh it off. Let the man have the last laugh at the time when he is hanging his gloves," Saihgal told ANI.
Yesterday, Basit emphasised on a continuous dialogue between the two nations for resolving disputes.
"Engagement is imperative to both countries. Both the countries had decided that they would separate talks from terrorism, because there would be forces in both nations, which cannot accept the normalisation of any relationship," he said at an event here.
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He said that there should be a dialogue in place to address the perceptions or misconceptions on each side.
Further talking about Pakistan's support to Kashmiris, Basit said, "Perceptions and misconceptions in India about Pakistan's support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not limited to moral, diplomatic or political support. They are beyond that."
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir should not be allowed to suffer because of what Pakistan or India did or did not do. Kashmiris have the right to self determination as was committed to them by both countries," he added.