Islamabad: Pakistan today said that it is not hopeful about an early resumption of Indo-Pak talks alleging that India was trying to divert global attention from the core issue of Kashmir by branding it as terrorism.
Sartaj Aziz was talking to reporters after inaugurating the annual conference of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) in Islamabad.
“India has suspended the dialogue process and now it is New Delhi's responsibility to resume it,” he said.
India called off foreign secretary-level bilateral talks in August after Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit's meeting with Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah. Aziz also said that India instead of addressing the core issue of Kashmir was trying to divert international attention from it by branding struggle for self-determination with terrorism. He also called on the world community to play a role in the conflict.
“Over the last 40 years, bilateralism has failed on Kashmir and that's why Pakistan wanted to engage international community on the matter,” he said. He said normalisation and friendship with India could only be possible without compromising self-respect, honour and equality.
The remarks came days after leaders of the two countries shook hands at the SAARC summit in Nepal, creating hope for revival of talks.
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