Pakistan calls off NSA level talks, India terms it "unfortunate"
After going through several now-on, now-off moments, the NSA talks between India and Pakistan were finally called off on Saturday, with both sides sticking to their positions. In a late night statement, the Pakistan Foreign Office said it has "come to the conclusion that the NSA talks would not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of the two conditions" laid down by India -- a clear signal calling off the talks. In reply, India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted: "Pakistan's decision is unfortunate. India did not set any preconditions. "We only reiterated that Pakistan respect the spirit of the Simla & Ufa Agreements to which it was already committed," he said. Pakistan's statement came in response to India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's press conference in which she said Pakistani National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz was welcome to come to India for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval but Islamabad must abide by the agenda agreed to at Ufa and only discuss terrorism. Aziz, who was slated to travel to India on Sunday for the talks, addressing a press conference earlier in Islamabad, said he was willing to come for the talks but Kashmir would be on the table and he would also speak with the Kashmiri separatists. The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement at night that talks held on the two conditions laid down by Sushma Swaraj would not serve any purpose. It accused the Indian minister of "restricting the agenda" of the talks to only two items: creating an atmosphere free from terrorism and tranquillity on the Line of Control.
