Pakistan gives no clear assurance on terrorism, raises Kashmir issue

NEW YORK: Pakistan today gave no clear assurance towards addressing India's concerns on terrorism, instead raked up Kashmir issue and "external interference" by India in Balochistan.

"Terrorism was discussed. We are aware of your concerns on terrorism, and I think our concerns are also known to the Indian side," Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said, while briefing reporters on the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

"Prime Minister Sharif also emphasised on external interference in Baluchistan and other parts of Pakistan," Jilani said.

"I have no doubt that today's meeting discussed all issues including Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Describing Kashmir as a "very important issue", Jilani said this needs to be resolved.

"We witnessed an equal willingness on the part of the two leadership in an amicable manner," he said.

Responding to questions on Hafeez Saeed and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Jilani refrained from giving any commitment and said that there is "willingness and commitment" on the part of both sides to discuss the terrorism issues including that of JuD and Hafeez Saeed.

Jilani described the meeting as "very positive and constructive."

Sharif, according to Jilani during the meeting, emphasised that the two countries have no option but to sustain peaceful dialogue between the two countries.

"The leaders expressed their commitment to have better relationship between the two countries. During the meeting the two leaders also all issues and factors which have contributed to the present state of relationship between our two countries," he said.

India raised the issue of continued cross-border terrorism and the support groups like Jamaat-ud-Dawa led by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed get from the Pakistan government.