On 18 August 2014, the Government of India called off the talks scheduled for 25 August 2014 between the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India. This cancellation followed the renewed incidents at the border and the Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s meetings with Hurriyat representatives from Jammu & Kashmir prior to the foreign secretary-level talks. Neelam Deo, director at Gateway House and former diplomat, comments on the situation.
Statement:
“The Pakistani high commissioner’s invitation to Hurriyat leaders for consultations ahead of the talks was unnecessary and provocative. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had consciously avoided meeting Hurriyat representatives during his visit to India in May 2014 for Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
At the same time, the Government of India’s decision to call off the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan is disappointing. Pakistan has held meetings with separatists before; it is not necessary for India to allow itself to be provoked in this manner.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government is already under pressure due to the marches and calls for resignation from Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri. India had agreed to the foreign secretary-level talks with Nawaz Sharif, and it would have been better at this juncture for India to be resolute in continuing with the talks with Pakistan’s civilian government.”
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