Talks Possible Only if India Takes Initiative, Says Pakistan

New York: Pakistan's National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz today said talks with India can happen only if New Delhi takes initiative. He was speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

India's response to Pakistan's envoy meeting Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi last month was an "over-reaction", he said.

India had called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan in August over its envoy Abdul Basit's engagement with Kashmiri separatists. Islamabad's interference in its internal affairs is "unacceptable", New Delhi had said. Pakistan hit back, saying it does not need India's permission to meet separatists.

The incident was a setback in the diplomatic ties between the two countries, which had seen a revival in May after Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony.

India had also lodged several protests against the recent incidents of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Aziz insisted, "Pakistan has not committed ceasefire violations."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif will be in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly but no bilateral talks will be held on the sidelines. But top sources have told NDTV that an informal hand shake cannot be ruled out. A big factor in deciding whether the two leaders meet would be the Pakistan Prime Minister's speech later today, which will be keenly watched for any mention of Kashmir. (Read More...)

PM Modi will address the UN General Assembly a day later on Saturday. (Special Coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US Visit)

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj would be meeting Mr Aziz during two multilateral engagements -- the Commonwealth foreign ministers meet and the SAARC foreign ministers meet.

Ms Swaraj will also meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi  where she is expected to bring up the issue of Chinese transgression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. (Read More...)