New Delhi, Aug.22 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that every interaction with the Government of Pakistan cannot be identified as a dialogue.
Addressing a news conference in the Indian capital this afternoon, Swaraj said, “Not all the interactions with Pakistan are dialogues. There is a composite dialogue which is different and has eight points, issues or subjects. Each of these issues are handled by different ministries and officials of the two governments.”
Sushma further said “That every dialogue or conversation has its own significance and value. In 1998, we had a composite dialogue. That composite dialogue can truly be called a dialogue between two parties. The rest are discussions and interactions, they cannot be described as a dialogue.”
Swaraj revealed, “Both Prime Ministers had reached an agreement, and that agreement was that let us talk about the issue of terror first.It was clearly agreed that there would be a clear delink between terror and talks.”
“It was agreed at Ufa that the talks in New Delhi on August 24 would focus on terror and how to maintain peace on the border,” she further stated.
The press conference is taking place a day after India and Pakistan sparred through verbal and written statements over Islamabad’s determination and intention to meet with separatist leaders from Kashmir ahead of the proposed August 23 and 24 NSA talks.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that its High Commissioner’s invitation to the Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership on August 23 was very much in keeping with the practice and tradition of the past many years.
While India’s Ministry of External Affairs ( MEA) sent across a strong message to Pakistan, insisting that there are only two stakeholders in the talks between India and Pakistan and added that New Delhi is committed to discuss the issues peacefully and bilaterally.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz for the talks in the national capital on Monday. (ANI)