New Delhi: Amid rising tension in view of latest terror attack in Jammu ad Kashmir’s Pampore last week, Pakistan on Wednesday insisted that there is "no hostile environment" with India and expressed confidence that the two countries "will talk".
While responding to questions over terror attacks in Kashmir in which Pak-sponsored terrorists are allegedly involved, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said, “There is no hostile environment, for God's sake. We are two neighbours. We have to talk and we will talk.”
India-Pakistan relations have been witnessing a chill over terror attacks like one on Pathankot Air Base in January.
Basit made the remarks to reporters at an Iftar party hosted by JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav which was attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Harsimrat Kaur Badal besides Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
CPI General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy and its MP D Raja besides Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav were also present.
Congress shares power with JD(U) and RJD in Bihar.
Naqvi, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, left immediately after Basit walked into the venue.
Senior Congress leader Ghulab Nabi Azad took on Basit soon after he made these comments and said Pak-trained terrorists were killing soldiers in India.
"Despite this, Pakistan has complaints? This (India) country has a complaint that it is not acting against ISI, its army...," he told reporters.
Recently, Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an RSS affiliate, decided to withdraw its invitation to Basit for its annual Iftaar party after the latter downplayed the terror attack in Pampore town that left eight CRPF personnel dead.
Basit had earlier shrugged off questions related to the attack, saying that media would be better off focusing on the Iftaar party hosted by the Pakistan High Commission.
“It’s the month of Ramzaan, let’s focus on this Iftaar party. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed issue between India and Pakistan. It’s an issue which needs to be solved. We hope we will sit and discuss on the issue and find a solution. Let’s have the iftaar party and enjoy ourselves,” Basit said.
(With PTI inputs)
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