NEW DELHI, Oct 31: With ceasefire violations by Pakistan continuing along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, India today made it clear that improvement of the situation at the LoC was a “precondition” for a forward movement in ties with that country.
The spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said they have received a request for a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister’s Foreign Adviser Sartaj Aziz and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on the sidelines of the SEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) foreign ministers meet on November 14.
Recalling the “last substantive diplomatic discussion” which was between the prime ministers of the two countries in New York last month, the spokesperson said, “The common understanding was that precondition for the forward movement in the relationship which both the Prime Minister desire is an improvement at the Line of Control.
“That is a common understanding and that is what guides our diplomatic interaction with Pakistan.”
He also said Khurshid will have some bilateral meetings as a host with other foreign ministers and that will include one with Aziz.
Asked if concerns over ceasefire violations will be raised by the Indian side, sources had earlier said, “This (Khurshid- Aziz meeting) will definitely give an opportunity to us to convey our concerns.”
Last week Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he was “disappointed” with Nawaz Sharif with whom he had a meeting in New York during which they had agreed to maintain peace and tranquility on LoC as well as International Border.
“Let me say I am disappointed because in the New York meeting (between them last month) there was a general agreement on both the sides that peace and tranquility should be maintained on the border, LoC as well as IB and it has not happened. It has come to me as a big disappointment,” Singh had told reporters accompanying him on his two-nation tour to Russia and China.
He had expressed his concerns against the backdrop of heavy firing by Pakistani troops not only along the LoC but also along the IB and the loss of lives of BSF personnel in the past few weeks and continued ceasefire violations even after the New York meeting. (PTI)
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