Zee Media Bureau
Islamabad: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir on Sunday slammed the reports of Pakistan Army involvement in Keran incursions along LoC as baseless and said that "broad-ranging, sincere and clear-sighted" talks between New Delhi and Islamabad were needed.
Even as unconfirmed reports say that there is a direct role of Pakistan Army in the infiltrations in the Karen sector of Kupwara area, the Indian Army is yet to confirm the same.
Speaking on the alleged involvement of Pakistan in Karen infiltrations, Salman Bashir said that the reports were “baseless”.
“All this narration you are hearing about incursions and infiltrations is baseless. But, rather than commenting on this very negative narrative about incursion...What we have been saying and say again and repeat...Let the competent authorities, the military authorities, deal with this issue,” the High Commissioner, who is on a three-day visit to Hyderabad, told a press conference.
"If there are issues (for India), we have concerns equally. Let us address each others` concerns and the logical and rational way forward...The civilised way is to have a dialogue. Pakistan is ready for this," Bashir said.
"We have no second thoughts. In Pakistan`s national interest, we need to have good relations with India. Aspirations in the two nations are the same. Ground realities should be looked at in an objective way," he added.
Seeking to defend Pakistan, Bashir said, “Militancy & terrorism had has affected us directly… instead of pointing finger at us, look at casualties we have suffered”.
Also, Salman Bashir reiterated that Nawaz Sharif did not use the term “village woman” for Indian PM Manmohan Singh as there was lots of respect for Manmohan Singh in Pakistan.
"There is no truth behind Pak PM`s alleged `dehati aurat` remark," he said.
The Army launched a massive anti-infiltration operation in Shalbhatti village in Keran Sector on September 24 after noticing a group of 30 to 40 militants trying to sneak into the Valley.
The Indian Army continued firing against the militants holed up in Keran Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir as the operation entered the 13th day with intermittent gunfire being exchanged.
