After Pakistan takes u-turn, experts says Nawaz Sharif under pressure

New Delhi/Islamabad: Foreign policy watchers feel that the Pakistan Army and the ISI appear to be putting pressure on the civilian government in Islamabad to harden its position vis-a-vis India, especially after criticism in Pakistan that the Kashmir issue was not mentioned in the statement by the two sides at Ufa.

While the external affairs ministry did not issue any official reaction till late Monday evening, TV reports cited Indian government sources as saying India has dismissed the statements of Mr Aziz and that the joint statement was the core of ties between the two neighbours.

The reports further cited government sources saying India is maintaining it is for the first time that terror is the focus of talks. But the Congress was quick to lash out at the Modi government over its Pakistan policy.

On the Id Milan invitation to the Hurriyat leaders, high commissioner Abdul Basit said: “(There is) nothing unusual about our invite to Hurriyat leaders. The hype being created by some is unfortunate, to put it mildly. Pakistan will continue extending its full moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of J&K in their legitimate struggle for self-determination as provided for in the UN Charter.”