ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday termed Hindu extremists organisations the biggest hurdle in Pak-India peace dialogue.

"In our eyes, the biggest hurdle is Hindu extremist organisations and their influence and relations with the current government," said Nisar.

The interior minister also termed Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s statement regarding Pak-India ties as ‘surprising’.

“If the Indian government is serious about mending ties with Pakistan, than they should declare exactly what forces do not want better ties between the two countries,” said Nisar in a statement released by the interior ministry.

Nisar also stated that the prime minister’s good relations with any other head of state are linked to our national interest.

“The Indian minister should not take it as the PM’s personal interest,” he elaborated.

“Indian seriousness over the issue can be gauged by Prime Minister Modi’s speech to the US Congress.”

Pakistani and Indian foreign secretaries were scheduled to meet to discuss modalities regarding the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue agreed upon during Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad for the Heart of Asia conference in December.

The Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue stalled following the attack on Indian Air Force's Pathankot base.

The dialogue was to take on matters related to peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, Tulbul Navigation Project, economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism, narcotics control and humanitarian issues, people to people exchanges and religious tourism.

Opinion

Editorial

Reserved seats
15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

AFTER the Supreme Court took exception to its decision to hand over reserved seats claimed by the Sunni Ittehad...
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...
Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...