Modi rejecting offer to meet Nawaz Sharif is a strong message to Pakistan

New Delhi: It was a conscious decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to agree to a formal meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York despite strong feelers from Pakistan since India wanted to send out a terse message to Islamabad that it will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs.

Government sources said Pakistan had conveyed to New Delhi that a “short meeting’’ between the two leaders could be arranged in New York on the morning of September 27 but India did not show any eagerness, particularly in the wake of Pakistan high commissioner’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders.

India’s sentiments, sources added, were conveyed to the Pakistan high commission by a top functionary in the Prime Minister’s Office a few days ago. The fact, sources added, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting Sri Lanka President Mahindra Rajapakse and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York during the United Nations General Assembly is also a signal to Pakistan that though India wants cordial relations with its neighbours, it will not compromise on its territorial integrity and tolerate any interference in its internal matters.

India had also called off Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan after its High Commissioner met Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi. India is determined to continue its strong stand on the issue.

Even though a formal meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Mr Sharif is ruled out in New York but there might be a courtesy exchange of pleasantries in case the two leaders do happen meet at the UNGA. But a lot would also depend on the speech that Mr Shairf gives at the UN General Assembly. In case he rakes up bilateral issues, particulary anything related to Kashmir, then even we will have to take a tough stand,’’a senior Government official said.

Meanwhile, security agencies are also closely monitoring the situation along the Line of Control amid reports that as many as 200 militants are waiting at launch pads along the border to cross over into India. Intelligence inputs suggest that Pakistan was planning a major insurgency bid before the onset of winter in the Kashmir Valley.

It was in this backdrop that Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high level security meeting on Kashmir a few days ago, which was also attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where security agencies were directed to beef up their presence along the LoC and the International Border.