Cricket diplomacy may not be moving as fast as it seems. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that no decision has been taken by the Government on allowing Indian cricket team to play series with Pakistan.
Swaraj statement comes at a time when Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahriyar Khan visited India in connection with resuming India-Pak series. Khan had announced that the series was in all likelihood to be played in United Arab Emirates in December. Swaraj snubbed suggestions that she was not consulted on this issuse. “Where has this information come that this has been decided and that I was not consulted. No decision has been taken,” Swaraj said.
She said that on foreign policy with Pakistan, there is no confusion or flip-flop. She mentioned three conditions for the relations between India-Pak to blossom and bilateral talks to take place. These include having an atmosphere free of terror and violence and removing third parties from between. She added India had called off talks between Foreign Secretaries last August since Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit “called” Kashmiri separatist leaders to take their views. “Usually the separatists call up. But this time he (Basit) called them up. This is not acceptable to us. There cannot be any third party in bilateral talks,” Swaraj said while adding no meeting between two sides is proposed as of now.
“The Government has a very clear Pakistan policy. First, we are ready to resolve each issue through peaceful dialogues. Second, the talks will be between us and Pakistan. Neither a third country will mediate nor there will be a third party in talks. Third, an atmosphere of harmony should be created by keeping away terror and violence. These three things are not decided today but were also part of the Shimla and lahore declarations. We have told Pakistan repeatedly that talks can take place based on these three principles,” Swaraj said.
India has also demanded action against terrorists, including 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman lakhvi. On Pakistan trying to use China to put a “technical hold” on India’s request to list Syed Salahuddin in the UN Security Council sanctions committee on Al-Qaida and associated entities, Swaraj said: “We had told China that we are not the only victim of terror. China is also a victim and the source is same. So, while voting in 1,267 in such types of issues, do not take a narrow view. Keep global terrorism in mind and follow a policy so that we can work together and take decisions united.”
However, despite unease in the relationship, Swaraj said the two nations are together in the time of. She mentioned Pakistan rescuing 11 Indians from Yemen and India bringing out three stranded Pakistanis. Similarly, Modi called up his counterpart Nawaz Sharif after Peshawar school attack and flood in PoK. “There are several unresolved issues and disputes but despite that India and Pakistan help each other as neighbours,” Swaraj said.