Pak-India track-2 talks held in Dubai

DUBAI: Pakistan and India had been exchanging fire across Line of Control (LoC) while an Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav was given death sentence in Pakistan but the two countries were also engaged in track-2 diplomacy simultaneously in an elegant hotel of Dubai.

It is stated and recommended in the track-2 diplomacy, “let’s allow Kashmiris from both sides of LoC initiate the dialogue to find the ways to bring Pakistan and India closer.”

Some politicians, former ambassadors, a few ex-army officers, prominent members of the civil society and selected journalists from both the countries attended track-II diplomacy held from Aril 8 to 9 and discussed ways to defuse tension between the two nuclear states.

The dialogue also had representatives from Kashmir to look at ways to improve relations.

Talking with The News, AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir expressed his hope after talks “There is will, there is way but India does not show its will.” During the talks, Shah Ghulam Qadir recommended to initiate the dialogue between the representatives from Kashmir from both sides if Pakistan and India agreed. He elaborated and suggested with the reference of Kashmir issue, “Pakistan and India have not succeeded in resolving the issues due to trust deficit between the two sides and India is against third party intervention even if it is the United Nations in this scenario both the countries would have to trust the Kashmiris to initiate the dialogue.”

He asked to form the group consisting of the representatives of Azad Kashmir government, representatives of Indian Held Kashmir government and Hurriyat leaders so they could suggest Islamabad and Delhi to resolve the issues.

Germany’s oldest organisation Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) that promotes democracy and political education facilitated the talks in the region where no one could watch them. Interestingly, the media was also kept away from the dialogue.

The sources informed The News that the meeting was in the knowledge of Pakistan and Indian government.

One of the participants from India said on condition of anonymity, “We discussed all issues including Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism and Afghanistan. We will soon give a report and recommendation to defuse tension in the region to the government.” These talks were held in problematic circumstances as they came at a time when neither country seemed sure about how to move ahead.