Top

No scope for any third party involvement in India-Pak dialogue: MEA

‘We are committed to resolving all issues including the issue of J&K bilaterally with Pakistan’

New Delhi: India on Friday said there will never be any scope for third party involvement in Indo-Pak issues while asserting that it was committed to resolving all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue.

"We are committed to resolving all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, bilaterally with Pakistan through peaceful dialogue and there was never and there will never be any scope, whatsoever, for involvement of any third party," Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry, Syed Akbaruddin, said.

He was asked about the consultations between Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and Kashmiri separatist leaders, who are also invited for the Pakistan National Day on March 23.

Justifying the invitation to separatist leaders, Basit had said, "There is nothing new about it. We always invite our Indian and Kashmiri friends to the reception. We do not find anything wrong so please take it in the same spirit."

On Basit's visit to Kolkata where he talked about setting up of a Pakistan Consulate, Akbaruddin said it cannot happen without the permission of the Centre and "at this stage there is nothing on the table".

Asked if India will raise with Pakistan the fidayeen attack in J&K's Kathua district, in which three security personnel were killed, he said India has been flagging its concerns over terrorism with Pakistan and will continue doing so as and when the opportunity arises.

A 'fidayeen' squad of militants in Army fatigues stormed a police station in Kathua district, killing three security personnel and leaving 11 others injured, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in the wee hours today.

Two terrorists, who were members of a fidayeen squad, were also killed in the subsequent encounter with security forces that ended around noon.

This is the first major militant attack in the state since the formation of the PDP-BJP coalition government there on March 1.

( Source : PTI )
Next Story