Pakistan is not shying away from dialogue with India and Indian Prime Minister’s logic in this regard is beyond perception, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said the other day.
Commenting on the recent statement of Indian Prime Minister in a television interview, the Advisor said, it was India who does not want to come to dialogue table and not Pakistan.
“Actually, it is India which is shying away as it knows that it has to discuss the Kashmir issue and other issues on the dialogue table,” he said.
Sartaj Aziz said we have a format of comprehensive and composite dialogue with India that includes issues like people to people contact, visa and fishermen issue, trade and economic cooperation and the issues like Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek.
He said the Sir Creek relates to Navies of both the countries and Siachen relates to the Armies. “Indian Army also has stakes in Siachen and when last time both the governments had reached an agreement, it was the Indian Army who had rejected it.”
He said there is also a mechanism of Prime Minister and his Indian counterpart, Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries of both countries for contacts and discussion.
“India should come forward and not escape from the dialogue,” he said and added, since many years it is India who is not interested in starting a dialogue. “India is escaping from talks on one pretext or the other, not Pakistan.”
He said, as far as the matter of the establishment is concerned all over the world the governments consult their establishments. “We also have a mechanism of consultation. Let India come to dialogue table and if we shall need any consultation with our institutions, that is our affair.”
Sartaj Aziz said the excuse made by the Indian Prime Minister that with whom India should talk in Pakistan was beyond perception.