India refuses to discuss Kashmir with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting Pakistan’s offer to hold talks on Kashmir issue, India on Thursday said it will only discuss the issue of alleged infiltration of militants with Pakistan.

India's Foreign Secretary S J Shankar wrote a letter to Islamabad, in which he mentioned that "India would not hold dialogue with Pakistan over Kashmir issue".

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gotam Bambawale handed over the letter to Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

"India has rejected the proposal saying that it would only hold talk with Pakistan on terrorism and the alleged infiltration of militants from the Line of Control (LoC)," said the Foreign Office.

"Suitable response would be delivered to New Delhi after thorough consultations," said the officials in Islamabad.

Pakistan had invited India to hold talks on Kashmir issue, with foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry inviting his Indian counterpart S J Shankar to visit Islamabad in the last week of August.

The letter written by Pakistan had highlighted the international obligation of both countries to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

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