New Delhi, India today (Wednesday) hit out at Pakistan for describing Kashmiri separatists as ‘stakeholders’ in the resolution of Kashmir problem, saying under the Simla Agreement it was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and a different approach would not yield results.
It also criticised Pakistan for doling out ”meaningless”
assurances on issues such as curbing anti-India terrorism from its soil or
territories under its control or investigation and trial of the Mumbai terror
attacks, which were conspired, hatched and carried out by Pakistan-based terror
outfits.
Asked about Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s remarks
justifying his meeting with Kashmiri separatists, External Affairs Ministry
spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, “After 1972 and the signing of the
Simla Agreement by the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, there are only
two ‘stakeholders’ on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir – the Union of India and
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
“This is a principle which is the bedrock of our bilateral
relations. This was reaffirmed in the Lahore Declaration of 1999 between
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Vajpayee”.
Earlier, Basit told foreign journalists here “We strongly
believe that our interaction (with Kashmiri separatists) is helpful to the process itself. It is helpful to
find peaceful solution to the problem. It is important to engage with all
stakeholders. So that is the bottomline for us.”
“We need to engage with all stakeholders. It is not a question
of either, or as far as we are concerned. We are engaging with India to find
peaceful ways,” Basit said while reacting to India’s stand that Pakistan should
either choose dialogue with separatists or Indian government.
India had called off the talks between Foreign Secretaries
slated for August 25, telling Pakistan bluntly to choose between an Indo-Pak
dialogue or hobnobbing with the separatists.
Asked why did India permit meetings between Pakistan and the
Hurriyat in the past, the MEA Spokesperson said, “Pakistan assured us, at the
highest level, that they were committed to a peaceful dialogue on the issue of
Jammu and Kashmir and would not allow Pakistan or territories under its control
to be used for terrorism against us.”
“We know now, particularly after the Mumbai terror attacks and
the manner in which Pakistan has pursued subsequent investigations and trials,
that this assurance had no meaning and that an approach that is different to
the one laid down by the Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration does not yield
results”. (Source- www.newsroompost.com)
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