Sartaj Aziz to visit India for talks on August 23

Published August 13, 2015
“I can confirm that I will be going to India on August 23,” Sartaj Aziz told a news conference. — Reuters/file
“I can confirm that I will be going to India on August 23,” Sartaj Aziz told a news conference. — Reuters/file

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz will visit New Delhi for security talks on August 23, he said on Thursday, in the rivals' first attempt in months to restart talks.

“I can confirm that I will be going to India on August 23,” Sartaj Aziz told a news conference.

Aziz said his visit was “not a breakthrough in terms of composite dialogue and all the issues but at least it is an ice breaking on some issues.. and let's hope it will lead to further more comprehensive dialogue on the other issues between the two countries”.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, in their meeting at Ufa (Russia) in July, had agreed that a meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) would be convened to “discuss all issues connected to terrorism”.

Read: FO says Indian invitation under study

Since the meeting, however, a series of militant attacks and border skirmishes have poisoned the atmosphere.

Earlier during the month New Delhi had proposed a meeting of NSAs on Aug 23 for discussing the terrorist threat faced by India and Pakistan.

The invitation for dialogue on terrorism came in the shadow of the July 27 militant attack in Gurdaspur, which Indian leaders have blamed on Pakistan.

India is planning to raise the issue of trial of alleged Mumbai plotters by a Pakistani court and the bail for Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the principal accused in the case.

Pakistan would, meanwhile, want to flag its concerns about Indian involvement in terrorism in Karachi, Balochistan and tribal areas.

Also read: RAW instigating terrorism, says army

India has long been accused of fuelling insurgency in Balochistan and unrest in Karachi. Indian intelligence agency RAW is also reportedly patronising militant groups that have been fighting Pakistan Army in tribal areas.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...
Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...