Pakistan ‘cautiously optimistic’ about resumption of dialogue with India

Sartaj Aziz says Modi’s telephone a good start but meaningful dialogue should be ultimate objective

Reacting to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with “cautious optimism”, PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has stressed the need for meaningful and serious dialogue between the two countries.

A few hours after the call was made, Sartaj Aziz told Rising Kashmir in an interview that it is a good start to break the ice “but whether it will lead to actual resumption of meaningful dialogue remains to be seen and depends upon the talks between the two foreign secretaries”.

Aziz maintained that he was not a pessimist with regard to this development but said “I am cautiously optimistic now that the visit has been resumed. Obviously there will be discussion on the agenda scope of the dialogue, modalities and the timeline. Once the dialogue process starts it gathers own momentum”.

Aziz said it was the result of persuasion by US and other countries that India was forced to reinitiate the dialogue process and “may be some internal dynamics of Kashmir played some role as well”.

“US and other countries had realised the fact that India has not done good by unilaterally calling off the foreign secretary-level talks in August last year and there was urge from the world community that both countries should move forward on dialogue process,” he said.

With regard to Kashmir issue, he said that there was no major change in Pakistan’s policy but “we are ready to talk on other issues” with a hope that Kashmir will be addressed seriously.

Aziz said that Pakistan expects India to make a “serious resumption of dialogue”.

“It has to be composite and comprehensive dialogue. Modalities, interaction and timeline (are a) must. There are issues like Sir Creek and Siachen on which progress has been made. Kashmir is going to take little longer but we should go beyond CBMs,” he said.

Aziz acknowledged that Pakistan had hardened its stand on several issues, including Kashmir, after the suspension of talks because the peace process “has not moved”. He added: “There is tension on borders…You can’t just ignore it.”