No engagement with Pakistan planned, says Indian minister
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NEW DELHI: Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday there was no flip-flop in Delhi’s policy towards Pakistan nor was any engagement planned with Islamabad in the near future.
She told a news conference that Pakistan’s adherence to three conditions could change the situation for the better.
Ms Swaraj said the two countries had decided on three principles for talks when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had come here last year. These principles were also part of the Shimla and Lahore declarations.
“First, we are ready to resolve each issue through peaceful dialogue. Second, the talks will be between the two countries — us and Pakistan.
“Neither a third country will mediate nor there will be a third party. Third, an atmosphere of harmony should be created by keeping away terror and violence.
‘Pakistan’s adherence to three conditions may improve situation’
“These are not decided today…We have told Pakistan repeatedly that talks can take place based on these three principles,” she told a press conference, noting that these were the principles agreed upon by the two countries in Shimla and Lahore declarations.
Know more: No full stop in diplomacy: Swaraj
Press Trust of India quoted Ms Swaraj as saying no engagement was scheduled. She was asked if any meeting was proposed between India and Pakistan in the near future.
“Now if (Mumbai terror suspect Zakiur Rehman) Lakhvi is out and he is released…and if Pakistan thinks that there is an atmosphere of harmony, will India accept it?” she added.
“There is no flip-flop in our policy. We had decided on three principles for talks when Sharif had come here to participate in the swearing-in ceremony (of Narendra Modi as PM). Since then we have been following those three principles,” she said.
On reports that Pakistan is trying to use China to put a “technical hold” on India’s request to list Kashmiri hardliner Syed Salahuddin in the UN Security Council sanctions committee on Al Qaeda and associated entities, Ms Swaraj said: “We had told China that we are not the only victim of terror. China is also a victim and the source is same. So, while voting in 1267 in these type of issues, do not take a narrow view.
“Keep global terrorism in mind and follow a policy so that we can work together and take decisions unitedly. This was conveyed to Chinese leadership by the Indian leadership.”
Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2015
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Comments (94) Closed
Jun 01, 2015 06:37am
Good decision.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:24am
Ms Swaraj, Great to see you being blunt, terse and to the point. Thats the way to go.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:58am
Please also review ur defense miniter statement. We also demand that you stop the blame games and reign on ur defense minister. Courts are run by evidence not a foreign country demand.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:59am
Look who is talking about flip flop policy. It amuses me how India always remains the innocent while Pakistan remains the suffering one. One should understand that both needs to work together if India wants to eliminate China threat otherwise Pakistan is better of with China. Quarrels among these two will always benefit third party in this case China. India is now not only interfering in Pakistan internal matters but also international matters. They are so worried about China Pak friendship that they are not leaving any stone unturned to make Pak China relationship sour. They can never be trusted as their Defence Minister already assured everyone that they will stop at nothing to destabilize Pakistan. It is time for a change we had enough and now that threat will be eliminated forever inshAllah time to taste your own pill India.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:16am
Best Cabinet Minister in Modi Team!!!!!
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Jun 01, 2015 08:20am
Well, with all due respect to Ms. Swaraj on the blame game, it was India's National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, who was caught on a video taped lecture telling its audience how he would pay higher price to hired killers to control Pakistan. Also, very recently, the Indian Home Minister has openly issued a statement about how India would counter terror with terror. India's recent failed attempts to malign Pakistan by cooking up botched story about a "terror boat" was also a proof of what India is try to achieve and then there the pigeon story which was more of a comedy than anything. So, please stop all these allegations and if you are serious about peace between the two countries then take a stop forward.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:20am
Good. There should be no engagement till hostilities from across the border stop.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:33am
Very well articulated by Ms. Swaraj. Kudos to her.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:38am
So essentially , if we talk about Kashmir, there is no chance of the Kashmir leadership being involved. No deal , India. You want to have a dialogue , you have a dialogue on equal terms and conditions . Do not dictate us what we should or should not do.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:38am
Pakistan has come to a stage where it feels it is duty bound to stop India, be it regarding permanent seat at UNSC or nuclear deals. Talks are tough to succeed with such mindset.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:46am
well said madam...!! instead of talking nuke arsenal need this kinda proactive speech...!!!
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Jun 01, 2015 09:08am
Well said Mam
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Jun 01, 2015 09:14am
Pakistani leaders, media and forces have to prove that Indian intelligence agencies are destabilizing Pakistan and defaming PAK ARMY right after the war of 1965. Pakistani have tolerated for long time and striving for friendship but all attempts have been failed. Now no more trust, remove all Indian intelligence trained agents from Balochistan and after that come for friendship. Providing funds on regular basis and asking to sit for talks. Fifty years after the war are enough and now no more trust on Indians they have to stop dirty intelligence games.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:22am
good mam keep it on... proud of you
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Jun 01, 2015 09:28am
Why is it taking so long for India to hold plebiscite in Indian Held Kashmir? It took Russia one week to do so in Crimea. Maybe India should import the technology from Russia.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:37am
kashmir is the third party. All consecutive indian government not only accepted this fact but also allowed huriyat leaders to participate in all concerned meetings. But the extremist and narrow mindset of Narendra modi and his allies want a change in policy by showing muscles to pakistan. This cant and will never happen. Musharraf is responsible for such policies by the indian government. He wanted friendship and see what friendship is doing to us. Banya,s should be given reply in a banya way ..
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Jun 01, 2015 09:37am
As an Indian, I dont like India playing Pak in UAE. Either it should be in India or Pak or only India. Thats it or trilateral series with Lanka.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:41am
Its fine with us, take your time no one is asking
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Jun 01, 2015 09:46am
Welldone Madam
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Jun 01, 2015 09:53am
kudos to Dawn news, so may Indians reading and commenting on a Pakistani news paper speaks volumes about the journalistic qualities of Dawn. The sooner India realizes the significance of good relationship with Pakistan, the better for everyone in the region. The region is operating way below its optimal production level, i sincerely hope we all can be the "Bigger man"and move forward
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Jun 01, 2015 10:02am
History changed, indian politicians changed their stance.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:05am
Indian ploy to declare the freedom fighters of kashmir as 'terrorists' has failed. Because the world knows the difference between a kashmiri nation invaded and occupied against their will by india and terrorists like Daesh.
India needs to fulfill 3 points before we allow them audience1, 1- stop funding terrorists TTP and in Baluchistan, 2- time line to agree resolution to kashmir, otherwise UN called in to hold plebiscite,3- india to disband the terrorist RAW cell set up in Delhi to disrupt CPEC. Non compliance, means they can stay away but the kashmiri freedom fight will continue.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:12am
1st: you don't talk down on any country if you want peace.
2nd: you don't spell out conditions for peaceful co-existence, we must strive for the best in the given conditions.
3rd: Everybody knows that Pakistan is fighting a war against terrorism. It is easy to point finger at each other. It would have been better if such a high ranking official had the foresight to encourage the efforts and show their support for more.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:13am
Absolute Right direction.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:13am
and it's a top story for a leading news channel in Pakistan....
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Jun 01, 2015 10:16am
Thank Q Miss, Swaraj,
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Jun 01, 2015 10:17am
Well said, Mam
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Jun 01, 2015 10:17am
and the three conditions projected as precursor for any meaningful dialogue, will any sane person find it wrong... NO
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Jun 01, 2015 10:31am
There is nothing to worry about.....
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Jun 01, 2015 10:33am
Wonderful news.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:37am
We can live and have lived without engaging with India. Thank you very much!
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Jun 01, 2015 10:45am
"Third, an atmosphere of harmony should be created by keeping away terror and violence."
is it applicable to Pakistan only???
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Jun 01, 2015 10:46am
Pakistan should tackle petty issues with afganistan and india should proceed with strategy of 2 digit growth rate.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:48am
of course , both the countries should resolve their issues through peaceful dialogues, were there any dialogues in which, gun shots ,were fired or delegations of both countries fought boxing or wrestling.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:49am
PM Pakistan repeatedly mentioned that talks with India will be start from Lahore declaration now India is ready. Required three conditions are considerable. Now Pakistan should take positive action in this matter.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:52am
good...we have lot of things to do for our 1.3 billion peoples.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:52am
sane approach.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:12am
well said madam
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Jun 01, 2015 11:13am
Do let us know India when you are ready to have dialogue on *equal* terms . No need to dictate us .
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Jun 01, 2015 11:46am
@Ali very well said !!
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Jun 01, 2015 11:53am
You stick to your conditions and we stick ours...
and let the situation be as it is right now..... let us see who gains.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:21pm
All three points relate back to India too.
1-it needs to stop using proxy fighters from Afghanistan in Pakistan.
2- There should be no dialogue without a solution. Otherwise it's wasteful expense of taxpayers money on both sides.
3- India has to stop lobbying with Third parties against Pakistan or send paid assassinationators to attack foreigners in Pakistan. You cannot expect love and care when you are ruining our image for the last 70 years.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:27pm
@Jaan Bhittani Well we certainly ain't losing much! ;)
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Jun 01, 2015 12:33pm
Very well said, India is following the right approach in dealing with Pak.
India must maintain its stand.
Pak must follow the signed agreements from Shimla and Lahore that Kashmir is a problem between India and Pakistan only. There is no other third party.
Let Pak make what ever noise on what ever forum. Dialogue and terror can not go hand in hand.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:34pm
Her comments would make logic if india agrees to discuss disputes of kashmir and siachin with an aim to resolve them. Mere commentary on the issues and pre-conditions wont matter much.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:38pm
We have tried to solve Kashmir again and again without 3rd party and jave failed.
As an ethnic Kashmiri I demand that under UN supervision, both Indian and Pak Armies withdraw from Kashmir, a UN plebiscite be conducted to decide the fate of Kashmir by the hands of Kashmiris.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:45pm
Very Good News for Pakistan, we are better off without friendly India, India uses friendly relations to create more trouble in Pakistan. we do not need India but India need friendly Pakistan. just India don't get it... Don't mess with Pakistan.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:52pm
Would be nice to see if india itself first can adhere to the policy specially of harbouring no Terrorism in Pakistan which doesnt seem to be the case.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:56pm
Well done or not,the situation remains at stand still point as ever.Neither India nor Pakistan can claim progress.Let us see what is the Pakistan's reply to this.
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Jun 01, 2015 01:13pm
A Fourth principle is also necessary.
It is mutual respect.
Regarding each other as equal on the discussion table.
Respect for each other's economic development.
If India and Pakistan are both economically secure and peaceful, then both countries can concentrate on improving the "Aam Admi".
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Jun 01, 2015 01:14pm
I wonder when will the Indians get rid of this negativity and act like a responsible nation with a vision to stabilize the region and take it forward. I wish they would know that there is more to gain for the region if India was to work towards positive diplomatic engagement with Pakistan.
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Jun 01, 2015 01:31pm
@Ali But living miserable life. No development , no good reputation anywhere in world
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Jun 01, 2015 01:32pm
That is what any sane and self respecting nation would do.
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Jun 01, 2015 01:36pm
@rehan Equal terms? When our defence minister hinted at using equal measures to ones used by Pakistan, all of you were up in arms. So what do you want? Equal terms or unequal terms?
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Jun 01, 2015 02:09pm
Well stated position, FM.
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Jun 01, 2015 02:58pm
whether you allow engagement or not, you're to bid farewell no later than Modi
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Jun 01, 2015 03:31pm
@rehan, She is saying that there are no plans to talk to Pakistan in near future, her job is to look after India's interests and dialogue with Pak is not in India's interest according to her. What makes you think by not talking to Pak, india is not benefiting?
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Jun 01, 2015 04:00pm
clearly on the back foot and very much in talking mood.
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Jun 01, 2015 04:02pm
@Ali (CA) Court need evidence but why are you not producing that .India submit all evidence to Pakistan but you are not ready to produce at Court.
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Jun 01, 2015 04:48pm
iron lady of India ..
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Jun 01, 2015 05:04pm
@AXH That video and other Doval videos that Pakistan Tv has been showing as NEWS are 2 years older than the date Doval took charge as NSA India.
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Jun 01, 2015 05:06pm
@rehan No one has been forcing Pakistan to take dictation! Its sovereign right of Pakistan to choose how it acts, as much as it is India's!
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Jun 01, 2015 06:10pm
I suppose then there will be no cricket diplomacy too.
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Jun 01, 2015 06:27pm
Every time india assure to media that, We did't interfere in Pakistan.
But actually the matter which going about Pakistan is so clever. We should take a serious inscription about it.
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Jun 01, 2015 06:29pm
r u kidding what PK is asking for many years and now u r rephrasing it.
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Jun 01, 2015 06:40pm
As India's present position about Pakistan and the Pak-China axis is going be highly damaging for it, India and Pakistan have to solve the disputes between them including that of Kashmir for the good of the region and that of Asia as a whole.
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Jun 01, 2015 06:44pm
I am pleasantly amazed at the way Dawn publishes comments from both side. Keep the good work up. Dawn has created an indirect channel of diplomacy.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:12pm
Normally we find Indians friendly in normal life. However people like Sushma who make it to the top and have this scornful attitude towards Pakistan is a long term problem. I don't think there will be any peace between us. India is always setting forth untenable conditions such as conducive atmosphere etc. How can there be a conducive atmosphere 100% of the time when there are so many possible spoilers? India is not serious and wants to keep status quo. Maybe they benefit from it. Pakistan must continue to treat India as it existential threat and must do everything to destabilize and damage this country.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:14pm
India needs to do a reality check. They are not a superpower and never will be.
Pakistan is a soverign nation and will do what is in their best interests.
India needs to realise that Kashmir is an unsolved problem that needs attention and preventing talks makes a solution not possible. In the long run the damage will be done to India.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:51pm
we have good intelligent commenter, rather than emotional to reciprocate in pease process, open our mind set, and think, who control all?
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Jun 01, 2015 08:51pm
@Blue Saffron please read the statement of the Indian minister. India does not alllow third party mediation in any mutual dispute with Pakistan. Please also do not forget Russias dubious stand on Ukrain so comparison is not apt here. Focusing on economic development of Kashmir will solve the problem no political discussions required.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:53pm
@Oz ...start using your brain.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:57pm
@Akhtar
How long you are planning to wait. Last 50 years have only helped India grow than anything....
India can live with Kashmir issue.... but i would want it to be resolved..... and from the past... it does not look like both india and pakistan has the capabilities to do that. We do need US to arm twist both India and Pakistan on it.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:29pm
@Blue Saffron
Please read minimum condition to hold Plebiscite...since 1948 Pakistan and Indian army are occupying the whole Kashmir. Also what was Kashmir in your view is now made up of 4 different areas i.e. Azad Kashmir, Ladakh/Kargil, Kashmir valley and Jammu. Plebiscite would have made sense in 1947 if peaceful transition happened from princely state to be part of union of India or Pakistan but hordes of NWFP tribes attacked innocent kashmiris to leave this mess.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:41pm
Thats the best statement this far from fm. If we can't have a good relations then why have any relationship at all, not required...no need to have meaningless- waste of time dialogs, no trade, no sports ties nothing at all. You go your way, I go mine's, no meddling, no interfering, no nothing. Best to forget each other and reduce the hatered on both sides. Total isolation from each other, hard in these times absolutely necessary. Baki sab hota rahega but pehle this hatered and suspicion should go.
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Jun 02, 2015 12:04am
Totally agree with her!
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Jun 02, 2015 12:22am
@Salman "Her comments would make logic if india agrees to discuss disputes of kashmir and siachin with an aim to resolve them."
The question you have to ask yourself is: Does India need this magic?
- Does it consider Kashmir and Siachen as disputes?
Once you have answered these questions honestly to yourself, you will understand India's stance.
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Jun 02, 2015 01:13am
@ there will be no deal-
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Jun 02, 2015 01:40am
That is right, disregard the UN resolution and keep on applying your own conditions so that the status quo remains and Kashmir (both Pakistan and India occupied areas) never becomes independent.
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Jun 02, 2015 01:52am
@rehan then force us to have dialogue.
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Jun 02, 2015 01:54am
@Blue Saffron Did you take out your forces from so called AJK and Gligit Baltistan
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Jun 02, 2015 02:10am
Sushma Swaraj , take your time. We are not holding our breath. As long as you remain allergic to'K' word, there is no point in any discussion.
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Jun 02, 2015 02:16am
@Akhtar India currently has the highest number of software professionals in the world and boasts of some of the best universities globally. Its clear from the Indian side that there should be constructive talks between the two countries and not stalemated repetitions on issues like Kashmir. The ball is in Pakistans court whether to take the comment in a positive light or prolong disputes by misrepresentation of statements.
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Jun 02, 2015 02:26am
India is fine not to change anything. Status quo works perfectly for India. Pakistan can either change its ways, or continue to deal with its problem. India is progressing very well with things being as it is with Pakistan.
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Jun 02, 2015 03:03am
Don't know what will happen if we temporarily suspend our relations with India, on all forums... let them crib everywhere ...
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Jun 02, 2015 03:40am
it is not dictating 2 pak don't get your ego hurt .
by the way let's see what happens in the end in pak courts to zakiur rehman and when do you present proofs about raws misdeeds in pak. till then gud luck
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Jun 02, 2015 04:39am
@Hashim Khan R U ready to be reciprocated in Kind?
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Jun 02, 2015 05:13am
Ms Swaraj you will get lots of claps in your audience.
But that's not how you solve problems between countries.
Reminds me of what Farid Zakaria said to Bill Maher (watch on Youtube).
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Jun 02, 2015 06:45am
@rehan It's not India dictating Pakistan. Please read the Shimla agreement signed by both India and Pakistan. Per the agreement, both countries agree that the Kashmir matter will be resolved bi-laterally (i.e. between India and Pakistan)
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Jun 02, 2015 09:52am
@SA
satblising the region is not india's duty only. you want kashmir problems to be solved as per your wish, then you will be happy.
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Jun 02, 2015 10:20am
@Another Indian Expect a reaction if you don't want it otherwise !!
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Jun 02, 2015 11:11am
@Patriotic Indian how can you say that only Pakistan and India are stake holders? Neither of them are. There is only one stakeholder and that is kashmir. So let them make their own decision.
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Jun 02, 2015 12:30pm
It is laughable that 100+ nuclear weapons could not bring India to table.
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Jun 02, 2015 08:22pm
Most of the muslim nations have shown peach only under autocracy and none I know have been secular. These are the things that will help Pakistan - secularism and true democracy. They don't need to talk with India or any other country.
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