New Delhi: Is Pakistan looking for a way out of the NSA-level talks scheduled for this weekend? That might be so because Islamabad has still not given India an official itinerary for the visit of its National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz.
While talks are just two days away, the absence of an official itinerary has set off speculation in India that Pakistan may be looking for a way out of the high-stakes talks.
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Normally, an official programme for such high-level diplomatic engagement is sent days in advance. This helps both nations plan the visit meticulously.
However, the delay has led to suspicion that Pakistan may not be comfortable with the talks anymore.
The two countries had agreed in Russia's Ufa that the talks at NSA level would focus only on terrorism. However, Pakistan has now revised its agenda to include resumption of Foreign Secretary-level talks, issue of bail granted to the main accused in Samjhauta Express blasts and India's alleged interference in Baluchistan, The Times of India reported.
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India, however, has categorically told Pakistan that the talks would be based on the agreement at Ufa and would only focus on terrorism.
However, Pakistan has yet to respond to that assertion and is believed to be having second thoughts about holding the talks sans Kashmir issue.
Just yesterday, Pakistan tried to provoke India by cancelling the scheduled Commonwealth conference only because it did not want to invite the Speaker of the J&K Assembly.
