Aziz brandishes the N-word now
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country and knows how to defend itself, PM Nawaz Sharif ’s national security adviser Sartaj Aziz has said, accusing India of acting like a regional superpower.
The Pakistan NSA, who on August 22 called off a Delhi visit, on Monday again blamed India for the cancellation of his talks with Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. New Delhi’s attempt to impose its agenda in violation of the Ufa agreement was the reason the two sides failed to revive dialogue process.
“Modi’s India acts as if they are a regional superpower, we are a nuclear-armed country and we know how to defend ourselves,” Aziz told Dawn News, a local TV channel.
Ties between the two neighbours hit a low when the NSA talks were cancelled following a bitter build-up and an ugly war of words. Kashmir was the main issue for Pakistan but India did not want to discuss it, Aziz said. “If Kashmir is not an issue for India, why have (they) stationed 700,000 troops in Indian-occupied Kashmir?”
But, in an interview to Karan Thapar on India Today channel, Aziz said making Hurriyat a big issue was “unwarranted” as the focus of the talks would have been on setting an agenda for future dialogue and he had no plans to raise the Kashmir issue substantially. “Many issues divide us but there are many issues that can bring us together. My focus would have been on the positives,” he said.
On the eve of his visit, India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj had categorically said Kashmir was off the table and there would be no talks if Pakistani side were to meet Kashmiri separatists.
To a question on Hurriyat being a hurdle in future as well, Aziz told Thapar that talks could take place in Islamabad. “If Doval wants to come here, he is welcome.”
Islamabad was unlikely to suggest a meeting between the Indian and Pakistani PMs on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York in September, Aziz said. “The ball is in India’s court. Pakistan is not likely to suggest a meeting.”
On the 26/11 trial, he asked India to provide voice samples of Lashkar commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Modi’s India acts as if they are a regional superpower, we are a nuclear-armed country and we know how to defend ourselves SARTAJ AZIZ, Pakistan national security adviser
“If it matches, it becomes evidence. We also want the trial to conclude.” He also asked India to share proof of Pakistan’s hand in the Gurdaspur attack, saying Islamabad would act on it. The proposed talks on September 6 between the chiefs of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers, and the DGMO dialogue for which no date has been fixed yet would take place as planned, he said. Indian officials, however, were non-committal.