Indian envoy meets Pakistan's NSA, raises issue of cross-border terrorism

NEW DELHI: Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria on Tuesday held a courtesy meeting with Pakistan's National Security Advisor Lt Gen (Rtd) Naseer Khan Janjua in Islamabad and exchanged views on various bilateral issues.

Diplomatic sources in the Indian High Commission confirmed that the meeting took place in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Islamabad. "It was a courtesy meeting held in the PMO," PTI quoted sources as saying.

The Indian High Commissioner sensitized Pakistan's NSA on issues of India's concern. The meeting which was scheduled a week ago, comprised constructive discussions on improving the bilateral relationship.

"The High Commissioner sensitised the Pakistan NSA on issues of India's concern. Constructive discussions took place on improving the bilateral relationship," sources added.

The sources further said that the envoys call regularly on dignitaries of the host country.

There was so far no word about the meeting by the Foreign Office. Local media reported that the two discussed various issues including the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The envoy is understood to have also mentioned about the three encounters in Shopian and Anantnag districts of Kashmir earlier this week in which 13 militants were killed.

In a statement, the NSA Office in Islamabad said Bisaria made a courtesy call on Janjua and the two discussed matters pertaining to improving the bilateral relations including the recent worsening situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

NSA welcomed the envoy and said that Pakistan is pursuing the policy of friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries including normalcy of relationship with India, it said, adding that Pakistan is committed to resolve all outstanding issues through comprehensive dialogues.

Janjua expressed "serious concerns over the ongoing human rights violations" in Kashmir and he said that "the use of force alone can lead us nowhere. It rather diminishes hope, injures the society and further worsens the fragile situation," it added.

"Process of dialogue is the only way forward to resolve our disputes. It is by way of peaceful resolution of our disputes which can enable both the countries to belong to the future," Janjua said.

The Indian envoy acknowledged that Pakistan and India definitely need to improve their relations and said "both countries have immense potential to improve the relationship and cater to each other's needs," the statement added.

He also suggested to work on taking small steps for improving the bilateral relations including the exchange of prisoners, visits of medical teams and trade initiatives.

"We can build on these small steps between us and take the relationship towards normalcy to address the bigger issues," he added.

Both sides agreed to explore the possibilities of more cooperation and of improving bilateral relations to ultimately take it towards a comprehensive process of dialogue.

(With inputs from PTI)