ISLAMABAD - Special Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on Saturday regretted that India blames Pakistan for all terrorist attacks on its soil before investigation, adding Islamabad will take up the issue at the National Security Advisors (NSAs) meeting.
Talking at a book launching ceremony in Islamabad, Aziz said Pakistan had not as yet responded to India on the National Security Advisers’ meeting proposed by the latter on Aug 23 in New Delhi.
Giving detail about the upcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference scheduled to take place in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8, the advisor said Pakistan will not invite speaker of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to participate in the event. “Pakistan’s principle position on Jammu and Kashmir will be compromised if the speaker of Indian-held Kashmir’s Assembly is invited to the conference because Islamabad does not recognise and accept the legislature,” Aziz asserted.
The national security adviser explained that the conference will go ahead as over 70 per cent of the delegates had confirmed their participation in the event.
About NSAs meeting, he said Pakistan was preparing its agenda for the meeting and consultations for that are underway. Soon after the agenda is finalised, we will share it with the Indian authorities, he added.
To a question, Aziz said that Pakistan did not differentiate between good and bad Taliban, adding that action had been taken against all and the fight against terror will continue until last terrorist meets his fate.
Responding to a question on peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, he informed that the second round of talks will take place in Pakistan soon. Talks between Afghan government and Taliban were postponed after the death of Mullah Omar. He hoped that these peace talks will go a long way in bringing peace and stability to the region.
Indian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr TCA Raghavan, talking on the occasion, said Pakistan had broken protocol by not inviting the speaker of Indian Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. “In the past, Pakistan had invited delegations from Indian-held Kashmir, adding that New Delhi will not attend the conference if Pakistan fails to invite the speaker of occupied Jammu and Kashmir assembly.