Indian ‘aggressive posture delays border opening’
It’s now Delhi’s turn to request dialogue on bilateral issues, foreign office says
The Indian government’s refusal to resume dialogue with the new Pakistan government has resulted in a tit-for-tat response by the Pakistani side as its Foreign Office (FO) yesterday made it clear the Pakistan government was reconsidering its earlier offer to open Kartarpura border for the Indian Sikh pilgrims.
In his weekly press briefing, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal made it clear that no such decision would be taken unilaterally.
“Pakistan prime minister’s offer to the Indian government for negotiation was based on his genuine desire to hold ‘meaningful’ and constructive dialogue with neighbours,” said the spokesperson.
The Indian government in return first agreed to foreign ministers’ level talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly but later backtracked from its stance and alleged forces had killed an Indian soldier.
“This is quite disappointing and we are now left with no other option than to wait and see when sense prevailed and the Indian government would realise that dialogue was the only solution to all disputes,” said Dr Faisal.
FO Spokesperson dismissed the impression as if it was Pakistan was pleading with India to hold talks.
First India itself contacted and congratulated Prime Minister of Pakistan on assuming the charge, Dr Faisal said.
Kartarpura border was one of the many points of the agenda on which the Pakistan government looked forward to holding dialogue with the Indian side.
Unless a door to composite dialogue opens, this particular issue too would remain unresolved, said Dr Faisal.
He also criticised the Indian army “for using chemical weapons in the ‘Held Kashmir’ saying in last 14 days, 18 Kashmiris have been killed.
On Kulbhushan Jadhav issue, Dr Faisal said his trial was to resume at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Feb 1821, 2018 at its headquarters in The Hague and Pakistan’s legal team was fully prepared to contest the case at the international forum.