Pakistan High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit on Friday said, "Pakistan is not begging for dialogue. If India is not ready, we can always wait." In a comprehensive interview with Indian newspaper "The Hindu" Abdul Basit discussed the increasing hostility between India and Pakistan highlighted "the need to break the impasse" between the two countries. He said, "Talking to each other is inevitable. Whether it happens one year down the road or three years down the road."
The interview took place a few days before Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz is due to lead a Pakistani delegation at the Heart of Asia conference being held in Amritsar this Sunday.
Speaking in relation to the possibility of talks at the Heart of Asia conference, Basit said Pakistan remains open to "any proposal for talks from the Indian side," adding that during the conference, attention must remain on Afghanistan. "Whether or not there are bilateral talks, our adviser is coming because Afghanistan is important for us, its stability and economy is important for us so we will participate constructively", Basit said.
Indian Minister of External Affairs Vikas Swarup, however, ruled out any possibility of talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the up-coming conference a day earlier. During the interview, Basit was asked whether Pakistan was worried about being cornered by Afghanistan and India at the conference on account of both countries holding Pakistan responsible for the 'cross-border terrorism' they face.
Basit responded by saying that Pakistan had no such concerns as terrorism is an important issue for the country as well. "Why should we worry because terrorism is also an important issue for us?" "There is zero tolerance for terrorism in Pakistan", Basit added. He highlighted that in the past, Pakistan has taken action against "proscribed" militant groups such as Jaish-i-Mohammed and Lashkar-i-Taiba.
In regard to the escalating situation along the Line of Control (LoC), Basit said, "The 2003 ceasefire was an important Confidence Building Measure, which should remain intact. We must preserve it and then consolidate."Basit described the relationship between India and Pakistan as "one step forward, two steps back and then discuss how to break the ice again."
He stated that incidents such as the July 8 killing of Burhan Wani bring the countries back to "square one" whenever progress on holding talks is seen. Basit added, there has been a "feeling in Islamabad that there is no desire for a comprehensive dialogue in Delhi," since the killing of Burhan Wani by Indian forces on July 8.
As happens at these multilateral forum meetings, we had conveyed that our adviser would attend and he made a statement that we are open to ideas for talks. As hosts India will decide our program. We have expressed our desire, but we do not know if India is willing. We are kind of in a situation where we would like the ice to break but we would not like to take any step that will not be reciprocated.
He said Pakistan will continue to extend moral and diplomatic support to the people of J&K. To expect Pakistan to look the other way would not be possible. And we are not alone. OIC has issued a statement on support of J&K. UN Human Rights Commissioner wants to send a fact finding mission there.
To a question Basit said if SAARC couldn't be held that is our collective loss. We also have serious issues on terrorism. The entire leadership of the TTP, for example, is in Afghanistan. We still strongly feel that terrorism is a common challenge and it is only through a cooperative approach that we can make a difference, not targeting one country.
To another question, the High Commissioner said if Russia engages with Pakistan, how is it a loss for India? We are living in a world that is transforming in many ways. Russia is a sovereign country, so is Pakistan. China and India have very good relations, China is one of India's biggest trading partners, but that doesn't have an impact on Pakistan and China's strategic partnership. All good relations work to our collective advantage. I don't subscribe to this zero sum game. Also remember, Russia played an important part when the Tashkent agreement happened, so good relations always help.
About PM Modi's recent statement on Indus Water Treaty, Abdul Basit pointed out that Indus Water Treaty is a permanent treaty. It can neither be changed nor abandoned unilaterally. We urge India to discuss their problems through dispute settlement mechanisms.
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