Hoping that the right combination of carrots and sticks does the trick, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his disappointment over Islamabad making a spectacle of New Delhi’s peace efforts by reaching out to Kashmiri separatist leaders. He, however, added India has “no hesitation to discuss any outstanding issue with Pakistan within the bilateral framework that has been established under the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration”.
Interacting with Japanese journalists ahead of his visit to Japan on August 30, he said Pakistan had made a spectacle foreign secretary-level talks, as Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit met Hurriyat leaders in spite of New Delhi’s objections.
Modi spoke highly of how his talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who along with along with other south Asian leaders had attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in May, had set the stage for improving relations between the two South Asian neighbours.
“We, therefore, were disappointed Pakistan sought to make a spectacle of these efforts and went ahead with talks with secessionist elements from Jammu and Kashmir prior to the meeting of foreign secretaries,” Modi added.
India, the prime minister added, would work for a peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties with Pakistan provided there is a “meaningful bilateral dialogue necessarily requires an environment that is free from terrorism and violence,” said Modi.
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