India has once again conveyed to Pakistan its concerns over cross-border terrorism and the tardy progress of 26/11 Mumbai attacks trial. The cases of ceasefire violation along the line of Control and International border in Kashmir also figured in the talks between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhary in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Jaishankar also delivered a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Premier Nawaz Sharif. Jaishankar, who is on SAARC Yatra, is travelling to all South Asian countries to take forward the relationship building exercise started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the region. last month, using cricket diplomacy Modi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and told him about Jaishankar’s SAARC Yatra.
Jaishankar’s visit led to resumption of dialogue which both sides termed as “ice-breaking”. Jaishankar also called on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz. This is the first comprehensive meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan after 2012.
“I am glad to be here as part of the Prime Minister’s initiative of a SAARC Yatra. I conveyed the expectations of our leadership on SAARC and their determination to forge a cooperative relationship with all our neighbours.
We discussed ideas and initiatives to take SAARC forward. Pakistan will be the next SAARC Chair and India would like to work with Pakistan to help SAARC achieve its potential. Naturally, my visit provided an opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations,” Jaishankar said after his meeting in Islamabad.
“We engaged on each other’s concerns and interests in an open manner. We agreed to work together to find common ground and narrow differences. 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. Our talks were held in a constructive and positive atmosphere,” he added.
The visit has provided the two sides to move ahead on the road towards resumption of their dialogue which was interrupted seven months ago when India called-off foreign secretary-level talks at the 11th hour because the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi held consultations with Kashmiri separatists.
“The two Secretaries tried building blocks to move forward. There was a forward-looking intent. They seem to be making progress in the pursuit of normalisation of ties,” Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi.
Chaudhary said that during the talks he raised the issue of alleged Indian involvement in militancy in Balochistan and the tribal region. “We raised Indian involvement in Balochistan and Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). We also raised the Samjhauta train attack in the talks,” Chaudhary said.
He said the two sides discussed the peace process and they would decide on start of talks after reviewing the meeting of the Foreign Secretaries. “They (Pakistan and India) would reflect on the meeting and then decide how to proceed about peace process,” Chaudhary said, adding that no time-frame can be given for start of the peace dialogue.