Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said on Monday that Islamabad was willing to hold talks with New Delhi on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Conference, scheduled for next week in Amritsar.
Speaking to an Indian news channel, Basit said, “If there is an offer of dialogue from India, then it will be accepted by Pakistan.”
“We can delay talks for months or even for years. But ultimately, a solution to the problems between India and Pakistan can only come through dialogue, and therefore, both nations must sit and discuss all the issues that confront them,” Basit said.
Pakistan is participating in the Heart of Asia conference despite continuing Indian aggression at the border. The Heart of Asia conference, which will be addressed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, will see participation of over 40 countries.
On November 15, Sartaj Aziz, the foreign adviser to the prime minister, had said that Pakistan would participate in the Heart of Asia Conference.
The adviser had said the purpose of Indian aggression along the Line of Control (LoC) was to deflect world attention from atrocities in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK).
“The neighboring country sabotaged the 19th SAARC conference, which was due to take place in Islamabad on November 15-16, yet Pakistan will not reciprocate the move. In spite of martyrdom of Pakistani troops in cross-border Indian firing and continuing ceasefire violations, Pakistan will participate in the Heart of Asia Conference in India,” Aziz had said.
This will be the first high-level visit from Pakistan to India after the announcement of Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD) in December 2015.
In December 2015, the meeting of the Heart of Asia process had been held in Pakistan. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had attended it after which she had bilateral talks with Aziz and announced resumption of CBD.
However, tensions between the two countries increased after the Pathankot attack on January 2, 2016. India claimed that Pakistani-based militants had carried out the attack on its airbase.
The situation had become even more critical following the Uri attack in September 2016. Four gunmen had attacked an Indian army base in Baramulla district, in Indian-held Kashmir, killing 19 Indian soldiers.
Immediately afterwards, India had announced that it would not attend the Islamabad SAARC summit.
Day one terrorist killings, cross border firing, day two talks, day three failed talks – parties sticking to their position, day four again terrorism…. we know the drill… what is there to talk about when positions are known….
You forgot the last three days to complete the week! Day Five Unlawful Indian occupation of Kashmir, Day Six Indian interference in Balouchistan, Day Seven Indian interference in Afghanistan.
Give the millions of Indians that sleep on the streets a roof over their heads before you start talking big!!!!
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