S Jaishankar accepts Pakistan's invite for talks

The Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan was called by Aizaz Chaudhry on Monday and handed over an invitation addressed to Jaishankar

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has accepted his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhry's invitation for talks on Jammu and Kashmir, it is learnt.

"In response to the invitation from the Pakistan Foreign Secretary, the Indian Foreign Secretary has conveyed his willingness to visit Islamabad," sources here said.

"Since aspects related to cross-border terrorism are central to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir, we have proposed that discussions between the Foreign Secretaries be focussed on them," they said.

"We have also conveyed that the Government of India rejects in their entirety the self-serving allegations regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India where Pakistan has no locus standi."

 

The Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan was called by Chaudhry on Monday and handed over an invitation addressed to Jaishankar, the Foreign Office said.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of arming and training the militants fighting to end Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan says it gives only moral and diplomatic backing.

India-Pakistan ties have become frosty after largescale violence broke out in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

On July 25, Indian authorities arrested Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Bahadur Ali in Kashmir.