Kashmir not on agenda an ‘incorrect’ assumption: Sartaj Aziz

Islamabad, Aug 22 (ANI): Extremely upset with the developments taking place in New Delhi ahead of the talks, National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz on Saturday put the ball in India’s court and said that the Kashmir issue was very much on the agenda.

Aziz said that they are very disturbed about arresting of Hurriyat leaders as it was a violation of their fundamental rights.

“As far as we are concerned, we have not formally cancelled the talks so we will go. If the Indian External Affairs Minster is holding a press conference this afternoon, we will see what comes out of it because we are still ready to hold the talks,” he added.

Aziz further said India’s assertion that Kashmir was not on agenda is incorrect.

“When I go to India I meet many political leaders, when they come they meet different opposition leaders and in this case, since the last 15-20 years, every time the leaders went to India they met Hurriyat leaders……linking that Kashmir was not on the agenda. This is an incorrect assumption,” said Aziz.

“The word ‘K’ is very much there in that statement because we agreed on discussing all outstanding issues. And who doesn’t know what is the most outstanding issue; it is Kashmir,” he added.

India has said the imposition of new conditions by Pakistan and distortion of the agreed agenda cannot be the basis for going forward with the NSA-level talks.

MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media in New Delhi last evening that the insistence on meeting Hurriyat as a precondition is also a complete departure from the Ufa understanding. (ANI)

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