India Says Never Shied Away From Engagement With Pakistan

© AP Photo / Pool Photo via APIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, speaks to Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, back to a camera, during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in Ufa, Russia, Friday, July 10, 2015
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, speaks to Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, back to a camera, during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in Ufa, Russia, Friday, July 10, 2015 - Sputnik International
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In response to comments made by Sartaj Aziz, India has said that the country is prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan.

“India has never shied away from engagement with Pakistan and is prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan bilaterally in an atmosphere free from terror and violence,” spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said during a press conference on Friday.

Indian security personnel stand guard near the bus that was carrying paramilitary soldiers damaged after a highway ambush by suspected rebels in Pampore, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, June 25, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Resentment Grows Against Pakistani Envoy in India
Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday had said that India is shying away from peace talks with Pakistan to avoid discussions on Kashmir and other issues.

Reacting to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments on an Indian news channel, Sartaj Aziz said, “PM Modi’s logic is beyond perception. It is actually India shying away as it knows that it has to discuss Kashmir and other issues on the dialogue table.”

Modi said that, “India was not reluctant to engage with Pakistan. Our approach has created difficulties for Pakistan, and they find it hard to respond on the matter in the international community.”

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that, “It was Prime Minister Modi who first invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony. Thereafter it was again External Affairs Minister who traveled to Pakistan and held a meeting which led to the start of a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue.”

“The Foreign Secretary was quite prepared to go to Pakistan in January this year to hold initial discussions on the modalities of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. However, the Pathankot terrorist incident intervened,” spokesperson added.

India-Pakistan relations have deteriorated further after the Pathankot Airbase attack as India wants a concrete investigation from the Pakistani side.

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