We will not take ‘dictation’ from India, say Pakistan govt sources

New Delhi: Talks between the top security advisers of India and Pakistan have hit several roadblocks before they've even started. Pakistan's Sartaz Aziz is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi to meet India's national security adviser Ajit Doval on Sunday, just as both countries have upped their rhetoric over Kashmir issue.

On Friday, India said that it would not be "appropriate" for Aziz to meet with Kashmir's separatist leaders. Pakistan's high commissioner to New Delhi had invited those leaders for a meeting with Aziz.

"India had advised Pakistan yesterday that it would not be appropriate for Mr. Sartaj Aziz to meet with Hurriyat representatives during his visit to India," Vikas Swarup, the spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

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In response, sources in the Pakistani government told India "they will not take dictation" from Delhi and will not accept conditions for the talks.

Earlier on Friday, Sartaj Aziz reportedly met Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant-General Rizwan Akhtar ahead of the NSA-level talks between the two countries scheduled to be held on August 24, according to reports.

On Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said that Aziz would meet Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi and that consultations with Hurriyat leaders were a routine matter.

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He also said that India and Pakistan are in the process of finalizing the agenda for the NSA-level talks in New Delhi on August 23.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, had extended an invitation to the Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders for Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz's reception party to be held on August 23.

Last year, India had cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan after Basit met Kashmiri separatists ahead of the planned meet.