India can discuss cross-border terror, Pakistan told

NEW DELHI: India has turned down a Pakistan invitation for talks on Jammu and Kashmir, while asserting that foreign secretary S Jaishankar was willing to travel to Islamabad to discuss cross-border terrorism.

“Since aspects related to cross-border terrorism are central to the current situation in J&K, we proposed that discussions between the foreign secretaries focus on them,” a source said. New Delhi’s letter handed over to Pakistan foreign office on Wednesday by high commissioner Gautam Bambawale also said, “the Government of India rejects in their entirety the self-serving allegations regarding the situation in J&K, which is an integral part of India where Pakistan has no locus standi.”

ET was the first to report, on Wednesday, that India was set to refuse a Kashmir-centric dialogue. Speaking to a select media gathering on Wednesday, foreign secretary S Jaishankar expressed similar sentiments.

Describing Pakistan as a roadblock in Saarc projects including connectivity initiatives in South Asia, he said that Pakistan has different view of the region besides using terror as an instrument in diplomacy.

“This has been underscored in the last few weeks, including attacks on August 15, and lack of progress on Pathankot terror strike probe. In the last two years, great efforts were made to reach out to Pakistan including the foreign minister’s trip there for the Heart of Asia conference,” Jaishankar said.

A final decision was yet to be taken on whether finance minister Arun Jaitley should visit Pakistan for the Saarc meet, as per sources as New Delhi believes it will not make a difference with Islamabad holding the Saarc process a ‘hostage.’ The PM’s proposed visit to Pakistan for the Saarc summit will be a policy decision, sources said.

In his letter last Monday, the Pakistan foreign secretary invited his Indian counterpart to discuss the Kashmir issue. The Pakistan government said the letter “highlights the international obligation of both the countries, India and Pakistan, to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”