Reports of backdoor diplomacy between Pakistan, India: Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday said there were reports that backdoor diplomacy efforts have started between Pakistan and India to normalise relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The PPP leader was speaking to Geo News and said that Pakistan-India tensions could lead to instability in the world.

She said that both Pakistan and India are atomic powers and the region cannot afford a war.

She said that Track-II diplomacy consists of mutual steps taken for the sake of peace by mutual friends, adding that India should make the first move to ease the persisting tension.

The senator said that Track-II diplomacy does not take place at governmental level. 

“India following the Uri attack started taking aggressive measures,” Sherry Rehman.

She said that India should have investigation of the Uri attack on an international level.

Sherry Rehman said that India and Pakistan should solve their mutual disputes through political measures. She said that world powers are also trying to normalise Pak-India relations.

Following the attack on an army base in the Indian-held Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers, a war of words and blame game started between Pakistan and India. 

The two countries also criticised each other at the United Nations General Assembly session recently held in New York. Not only that, the rise in tension also took a toll on the regional SAARC summit. The summit was postponed following India's decision not to attend the conference which was earlier scheduled to take place on Nov 9 and 10 in Islamabad.