NEW DELHI: India has not sent any pre-conditions for National Security Advisor (NSA) level talks with Pakistan, the country’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj claimed on Saturday.
The Indian minister told reporters that NSA level talks were not part of the composite dialogue process and would only discuss the issue of terrorism. “In Ufa when the two prime ministers met there was no discussion on the composite or resumed dialogue.”
Swaraj said three meetings were decided during the Ufa talks which included NSA level, DGs and DGMO talks.
“India is trying to create an environment to resume dialogue between the two countries,” Swaraj said in response to Pakistan stating that India was running away from talks.
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Pakistan rejects Indian pre-conditions for talks According to the Indian minister an invitation had been sent to Pakistan for the NSA level talks on July 24.
Sushma Swaraj said that the issue of Kashmir was indeed part of the composite dialogue process but would not be discussed in the NSA talks. “The meeting which had been agreed on in Ufa did not have Kashmir on the agenda.”
Speaking on the issue of Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz’s proposed meeting with Hurriyat leaders, Swaraj said no third party including Hurriyat should be made part of the Pak-India dialogue process. She claimed that Pakistan had signed in the Simla agreement that there would be no third party in the talks.
The Indian minister said that Pakistan had till tonight to decide whether to attend the NSA level talks. She emphasised that the talks would only be held on the issue of terrorism and Pakistan had to give assurance on this. “If Pakistan does not agree talks will not happen.”