Islamabad/New Delhi: Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz today reiterated that India “is delaying on holding talks by giving one excuse or other”.
He said that the dialogue between the two sides shouldn’t have been suspended after the Pathankot terror attack that killed seven Indian jawans.
“January 1 Pathankot happened and the whole thing (dialogue) got suspended. I don’t see why such incidents should suspend the dialogue,” Aziz said.
“In one excuse or other, they (India) delay dialogue,” he added.
Aziz’s remark came soon after Ministry of External Affairs hit out at Pakistan saying “New Delhi has never ever shied away from holding talks with Islamabad and that on several occasions, India has taken initiative to start the comprehensive bilateral dialogue but Pakistan avoided discussions”.
"After an incident like Pathankot, it is a natural and legitimate expectation of the government and people of India that there should be concrete action from the Pakistani side which has not denied the involvement of its nationals in the Pathankot attack. Therefore, as the minister (Sushma Swaraj) said we are awaiting a concrete investigation to take place at the Pakistani end," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Aziz further stated that his government will not back from its principled stance on talks with India and that normal relations on New Delhi's terms are not acceptable to Islamabad.
He also that it was “hardly an excuse” to suspend talks over the Pakistan High Commissioner meeting Kashmiri separatists last year.
India had last year called off the NSA level talks with Pakistan after the latter decided to go ahead with talks with Kashmiri separatist leaders.
