No joint statement, Pak India fail to make headway on talk

The much-anticipated talks between the Pakistani and Indian Foreign Secretaries on Tuesday failed to make headway on the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, with both sides trading allegations.

Issues of terrorism and Kashmir kept both sides from taking a common position and there was no joint statement at the end of the meeting, reported The Hindu.

The Pakistan delegation, led by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, alleged that Indian intelligence agencies were responsible for the unrest in Balochistan, and Mr. Jaishankar “firmly rebutted” the charge saying that Pakistan cannot be in denial on the impact of terrorism on the bilateral relationship.

The meeting between Mr. Chaudhry and Mr. Jaishankar was the first after the January 2 Pathankot attack. It came within weeks of Pakistan High Commissioner saying that the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue was “suspended.”

 “India’s Foreign Secretary emphasised the need for early and visible progress on the Pathankot terrorist attack investigation as well as the Mumbai case trial in Pakistan,” said a source after the meeting. The strongest comment, however, was made by Pakistan when the visiting Foreign Secretary described Kashmir as the “core issue”, echoing Pakistan’s traditional position on the dispute.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary conveyed his country’s concern about developments in the Samjhauta Express blasts case. “The Foreign Secretary also conveyed concerns over the environment being created in India for the release of the prime suspects of the Samjhauta Express blasts. He further pointed out that, despite repeated requests, India has not shared investigation reports in which 42 Pakistanis lost their lives,” said an official of the Pakistan High Commission.

However, a senior MEA official told the newspaper, India resisted Pakistan’s arguments saying the “matter is under investigation.”