ISLAMABAD - India is denying any chance for dialogue as it continues to support terrorism inside Pakistan and sponsor militants across the country, Islamabad has told Washington.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that Pakistan had shared the evidence of India’s involvement in creating instability in Pakistan with the United States.
“We have asked Washington to play its role to stop India. Interestingly, India is accusing us for not ensuring a conducive environment for talks. They are themselves denying any chance for talks all through the years,” said one official.
He added: “We are ready for talks in all circumstances but India should at least stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.”
This week, India accused Pakistan of supporting terrorists and spoiling chances of talks between the nuclear armed neighbours. Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “For the talks to go ahead, there should be a conducive environment and atmosphere. And that environment has to be created which is free of terrorism and free of terrorists getting support from Pakistan.”
Pakistan and India had announced to resume talks under the comprehensive bilateral dialogue after Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad in December 2015. However, India called off the plan after the Pathankot terror attack in 2016.
Another official at the foreign ministry said India itself was not interested in talks and has been leveling allegations against Pakistan. “We have told both Washington and New Delhi that Pakistan was aware of the Indian involvement in Pakistan and had evidence. We have shared the evidence with both the US and India,” he maintained.
The official said Pakistan had conveyed to the US and India that Pakistan was ready for talks but India needed to show seriousness for the talk process.
Foreign office spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said it will better serve the interests of both the countries to engage in a meaningful dialogue aimed at agreeing on measures of restraint and military doctrines, which were defensive in nature rather than seeking to create space for war.
“India should respond positively to Pakistan’s proposal for a Strategic Restraint Regime that can serve as the basis for enduring peace and stability in the region,” he said at his last news briefing.
Pak-India relations have been far from normal in the recent months. In July 2016 a Kashmiri freedom fighter – Burhan Wani - was killed by the Indian forces. This was followed by protests in held Kashmir and use of power by India to crush the demonstrators – dozens were killed. In September last year, 19 Indian soldiers were killed in an attack in Uri, held Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the strikers. Islamabad denied any role.
Since partition of British India in 1947, Pakistan and India have been involved in four wars - including one undeclared war. All of them except the 1971 war were fought on Kashmir. The 1971 resulted in Dhaka fall.
India has intensified violations along the Line of Control after the US promised a greater role for New Delhi for the resolution of the Afghanistan issue. Pakistan claims India’s engagement in Afghanistan will aggravate the situation instead of resolving the issue. Islamabad also blames India of using Afghanistan soil against Pakistan.
Former ambassador Abida Hussain said Pakistan had been making efforts to hold talks with India but every time New Delhi comes up with one excuse or the other. “India is trying to discredit Pakistan before the world. Their attempts to isolate Pakistan will fail,” she said.
Abida Hussain said instead of blaming Pakistan, India should review its own past. “They have never been sincere in talks,” she added.
International affairs expert Dr Huma Baqai said Pakistan wanted talks with India but not at the cost of sovereignty. She said the US and India wanted to counter Chinese strategic foot prints in Asia Pacific. Baqai said the US was using India to pressurize Pakistan to achieve its goals in the region.