ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Sunday said India never opened a window of opportunity for dialogue and goodwill with Pakistan as all the development in this regard was sabotaged when the talks between the countries were postponed after the Pathankot attack.
“It is a very strange thing to say as it was decided here on December 9 that the dialogue will resume but then the Pathankot incident occurred and everything vanished into thin air,” Aziz said while speaking during Geo News show ‘Naya Pakistan’.
Aziz was referring to Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s recent statement about the ‘slowly closing’ window of of goodwill and dialogue with Pakistan as “Pakistan separates terrorists between good ones and bad ones”.
The adviser on foreign affairs emphasised if India continues to repeat this old allegation of terrorism when it comes to the negotiating table, they must remember that terrorism is a part of the composite dialogue that Pakistan proposes.
“They say that they will talk if we (Pakistan) make some progress on terrorism, but we say that they (India) should talk on all issues including Kashmir,” said Aziz.
However, Aziz added that Pakistan is not desperate for talks and there is no restlessness on the Pakistani side for dialogue. but if this region has to see peace, this region has to see co-ordination first.
“The whole world agrees that India and Pakistan should have composite dialogue.”
Replying to a question, the adviser said Pakistan is not unaware of Indian efforts to integrate Kashmir and change its demography as “such efforts by India would not succeed.”
“Protests against Indian policies have increased there (Indian-held Kashmir), Pakistani flags have been raised and people are supporting the Pakistani position on the issue in the region,” Aziz said.
He further said the ground reality of Kashmir is against India and the people of Kashmir have not given up their struggle for self-determination and Pakistan is supporting them ‘morally and diplomatically’ and will raise the issue with the UN General Assembly, Human Rights Council and also with permanent members of UN Security Council.
‘No Pakistani involvement in Pathankot’
Earlier this week, Director General of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sharad Kumar said there is no evidence of Pakistan government’s involvement in the attack on Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a response after the Indian intelligence chief’s statement said DG NIA’s statement has vindicated Pakistan’s longstanding position in the context of Pathankot.
The Pathankot air base attack occurred just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a ‘surprise’ visit to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and the occasion of his granddaughter’s wedding ─ a move that appeared to promise better relations between the neighbouring countries in the coming year.
