Axing NSA level talks by Pakistan unfortunate: Rajnath Singh

Singh added that Kashmir was never on the agenda of the proposed meeting between the national security advisers

Home Minister Rajanth Singh said on Sunday that Pakistan's decision to call off the NSA level talks was "unfortunate" as India wanted them to be held for better bilateral ties.

"It is unfortunate that Pakistan has called off the talks. India wanted to have talks," the minister told reporters here.

Rajnath Singh said Kashmir was never on the agenda of the proposed meeting between national security advisers Sartaj Aziz of Pakistan and Ajit Doval of India.

"Ye agenda pehle kyun nahi tey karliya? Ye (Kashmir) toh mudda kabhi thaa nahi. (They should have fixed the agenda beforehand. Kashmir was never on the talks agenda)," he said.

"India wants to have good relations with its neighbours," he added.

In a Saturday night statement, Pakistan said it had concluded that the NSA talks would not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of the two conditions laid down by India.

In reply, India's external affairs ministry said: "Pakistan's decision is unfortunate. India did not set any preconditions.

"We only reiterated that Pakistan respect the spirit of the Shimla and Ufa (Russia) agreements."