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India raised a number of issues with Pakistan on Tuesday, including cross-border terrorism, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and the ongoing ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC), during the visit of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to Islamabad.
The foreign secretary, who was in Pakistan as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘SAARC Yatra’ initiative, also met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; Sartaj Aziz, Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs and national security; and Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to Sharif. Jaishankar met Sharif later in the day and handed over a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him.
The talks were held in a “constructive and positive atmosphere” and both neighbours were able to reach a “common ground and narrow the differences.”
“My visit provided an opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations. I reiterated our known concerns on cross-border terrorism, including on the Mumbai case. We agreed that ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border was vital,” Jaishankar said after an hour-long meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in Islamabad.
According to a senior official in the ministry of external affairs, India has made it clear to Pakistan that talks will not continue unless the guns fall silent on the border. It has also suggested a strategy in terms of regular contact between both the director generals of military operations (DGMOs) and border security forces.
The DGMOs had last met on December 2013 after incidents involving a dozen of soldiers along the LoC came to light. It was then decided the DGMOs of both countries would have regular discussion over a hotline every week. However, it has become irregular and incidents of ceasefire violation have continued unabated.
“Since diplomats cannot resolve tensions taking place on the border, it will be best to engage people who are on the ground. So we have proposed to Pakistan that let the DGMOs and BSF rangers work out the daily issues. We will start with that. If that works out, then we will look at other CBMs (confidence building measures). We are not very ambitious, but at least it will set in process engagement and normalcy on the border,” the official added.
Pakistan on its part took up the issue of 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings and the ongoing disputes concerning Kashmir, Sir Creek and Siachen. It also urged India to not to encourage hostile propaganda against each other and adherence to the 2003 LoC cease-fire agreement.
“We have discussed all issues with India. There was a common resolve to work towards all bilateral issues. On the LoC, we expressed our concerns and agreed to utilise the existing channels that can maintain the cease-fire. Both sides agreed to stay engaged and then move on the next steps,” Chaudhry told reporters there.
Jaishankar and Chaudhry also had another hour-long discussion over luncheon where both were learnt to have discussed matters related to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and what Modi envisioned during the last SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu.
On SAARC, India has asked Pakistan to cooperate and take appropriated steps. The foreign secretary is believed to have told Pakistan that if it does not cooperate in making SAARC a successful entity, India will move ahead with a new initiative — BBIN (Bhutan, Bangladesh, Indian and Nepal).
This is the same message the foreign secretary is expected to impart to Afghanistan, which he would visit on March 4. In Kabul, Jaishankar will meet key officials from the new administration led by President Ashraf Ghani.
Jaishankar is expected to visit Sri Lanka on March 6-7 during the second phase of the ‘SAARC Yatra’. He will be accompanying external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.
(With inputs from PTI)
