Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a meeting in New Delhi on May 27, 2014
India has cancelled talks with Pakistan scheduled for next week in Islamabad, stating that "Pakistan's continued efforts to interfere in Indian internal affairs are unacceptable." Pakistan responded by saying such parleys with Kashmiri separatists before talks with India is a "long-standing practice". (
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Foreign Secretaries of both countries were to meet on August 25 in Islamabad.
But Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit invited Kashmiri separatists to meet with him in Delhi for "consultations" ahead of those talks, infuriating India.
"Under present circumstances, it seems no useful purpose will be served by the Foreign Secretary visiting Islamabad, therefore the visit stands cancelled," said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. (Political Reactions After India Calls Off Talks With Pakistan)
The government say that Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had phoned the Pakistani High Commissioner to warn, "Either talk to separatists or talk to us." (Before Calling Off Pakistan Talks, a Warning Issued Over the Phone)
Pakistan Foreign Office said that the Indian decision is a setback to efforts by our leadership to promote good neighbourly relations. "It is a long-standing practice that prior to Pakistan- India talks, meetings with Kashmiri leaders are held to facilitate meaningful discussions on the issue of Kashmir," it said in a statement. (Read More)
The Pakistani envoy had sought meetings with Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief of its hardline faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani and senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, who floated the third faction of the amalgam last year. Pro-independence JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik has also been invited for the discussions.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kargil, where India and Pakistan fought a war in 1999, and accused Pakistan of using terrorism to wage "a proxy war" in India. (As India Calls Off Talks, Defence Minister Says Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan 'Deliberate')
His comments came amid new tension along the Line of Control or the de-factor border in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan denied the allegations and retaliated by saying India should not practice "a blame game." (Two Ceasefire Violations in a Day by Pakistan Troops in Jammu and Kashmir)
After he swept the national election in May, PM Modi surprised many by inviting his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and other South Asian leaders to his swearing-in ceremony. The meeting between the two premiers led to a decision for talks between their Foreign Secretaries.
The Opposition Congress has been charging Mr Modi with failing to react to incursions and infractions by Pakistan in Kashmir. The party says the PM, who was quick to accuse the previous government of being too soft on Pakistan, has failed to take a firm stand with Islamabad since coming to power.
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