New Delhi, Sep 20 : India on Thursday strongly condemned Pakistani forces for what it says "barbaric" incident in which Pakistani troops have slit the throat of BSF head constable Narendra Kumar along the international border near Jammu.
MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar though confirmed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet her counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in New York later this month, the development should not be dubbed as a step forward to resume the stalled talks.
MEA spokesman in Delhi Raveesh Kumar asserted while Ms Swaraj will be meeting her counterpart in New York - in no way "it indicates any change in the policy on our stand on terrorism or cross border terrorism".
"On the SAARC itself, our position has been very clear and consistent....Time and again we have said that the atmosphere in the region is not conducive for the SAARC Summit and this is not only India, which has felt in this manner. There are number of other countries in the region who also feel that under the shadow of terrorism and cross border terrorism, it is difficult to hold the Summit".
"We are ascertaining facts....This is a barbaric incident which not only defies logic, not only defies civilised behaviour but also is against all international norms," Kumar told reporters here on the attack on BSF jawan.
"I understand that the BSF has strongly taken up the matter with Pakistani side," MEA spokesman said in reference to the attack on the BSF personnel.
Official sources said the body of Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could be retrieved from a spot ahead of the Indo-Pak fence only after over six hours of search.
While the spokesman Mr Kumar confirmed about Sushma-Qureshi meet, he was particularly cautious to declare that - "Isey sirf Mulaqat maniye (You may consider it just a meeting only)".
The MEA spokesman, however, said during her meeting with Mr Qureshi the Indian foreign Minister will raise the issue of 'Kartarpursahib Gurudwara corridor".
"Yeh sirf meeting hae, yeh koi talks nahi hae...yeh koi resumption of talks nahi hae (This will be just a meeting, this is no talks...This is neither resumption of talks)," the spokesman said.
He also maintained that the meeting is taking place following requests from Pakistani side.
In a series of messages during last few days, Pakistan requested Indian side for resuming stalled talks. Both the countries have not held any substantial talks since 2012.
The last interactions between foreign ministers of both the countries took place in December 2015 when Ms Swaraj had visited Islamabad.
The chances of resumption of parleys did not yield expected results as Pathankot attack took place no sooner in January 2016.
On Thursday, Pakistan foreign ministry made a strong case for resuming dialogue with India and said - "Let's talk and resolve all issues."Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has in a letter -dated September 14 - to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi offered to resume stalled dialogues and said he is looking forward to work with Prime Minister Modi "for the benefit of people of both of our countries".
Pakistan Prime Minister in his missive made a special request about the possibility of meeting between the two Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meet in New York later this month."Would be better if the two countries' foreign ministers (Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mahmood Qureshi) can meet on the sidelines of UNGA in order to initiate a formal dialogue process that has been pending for long," Mr Imran Khan wrote in his letter.
Addressing his Indian counterpart as 'Modi Sahab', said he appreciates PM Modi's stance that "the only way forward" for the two countries lies in constructive engagement.
Mr Khan also invoked the name of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and suggested there is a need for "bringing positive change" in the bilateral relationship.Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal took to micro blogging site and wrote: "We await formal response from India".
Discounting Pak factor, India for closer bond with major global players
Is Pakistan already in the lap of China?
Pakistan’s strong bonding with China is a well known phenomenon and deep rooted and thus to imply that India’s growing ties with the United States or Russia could drag Islamabad ‘closer’ to Beijing could be erroneous. This is what is underlined by a government source here even as it maintains that New Delhi’s more recent foreign policy cannot be called ‘neo Non Alignment either”.
In this context, the source maintains without ambiguity that - “Irrespective of whatever the impact on Pakistan, we have to develop relations with all the major players”. “Pakistan toh China ki god mein baitha hua hae (Pakistan is already sitting on the lap of China),” the source said rather in a lighter sense clarifying recent boost to Indo-US and India-Russia ties have nothing to do with it.
The source insisted that the Modi government’s policy is to “be close to all countries”.
“Someone asked whether the current government’s policy is neo-Non Alignment.....My answer is very simple. I said it’s not Non Alignment as Non Alignment means equi distance from all....But the current government decision is to stay closer to all countries,” the source said – however adding that it is also firm about “taking independent decision on India's national interest”.
“That means we could align with quite a few countries on various issues but only on national interests not on ideological issue.....So there is a very fundamental difference between non-alignment and the policy the government is following,” the source said.
A rather detailed analysis on these lines have been made by an official when asked to comment whether India’s growing proximity with Russia and the United States could easily drag Pakistan into the ‘lap’ of China.
Commenting on the issue, in fact an old hand in India’s foreign policy said the subject matter given its complexity and geo-political significance deserves more detailed analysis perhaps even in the form of a book.
The observations come within weeks, Pakistan – snubbed by the United States and also penalised for not taking adequate actions against terror – has made overtures and tried to move closer to China.
In fact, a day after India hosted the inaugural ‘2 Plus 2 Dialogue’ with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the US Secretary Defence James Mattis, Islamabad hosted China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi for a three-day meet from September 7.
China has already pledged $ 57 billion in loans for Pakistan as part of its Belt and Road initiative.
Wang further said the Pakistani portion of the Belt and Road initiative, known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), would help funds-starved new regime in Pakistan ‘increase economic growth by 1-2 per cent’. "CPEC has not inflicted a debt burden on Pakistan, rather when these projects get completed these will create considerable returns”.
"Recent global and regional developments, including India’s intensifying military alliance with the US to contain China, has created a compulsion for Pakistan and China to further intensify their military and economic partnership," says Pakistan's 'Dawn' newspaper.
Pakistani foreign office claimed that to China, Islamabad will continue to be a focus area in the relations between two countries.
Another paper 'The Nation' quoted unnamed Pakistani officials saying: “We have no trust issues with China. We can discuss anything. China has supported us through thick and thin. If the talks with Pompeo are not too positive, we have the options of China and Russia. Chinese FM’s visit is meaningful due to its timing".
The US announced suspension of $300 million towards Coalition Support Funds for Pakistan citing that Islamabad has not done enough to fight terror.
As a quick follow up, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa, on special invitation, called on the President of China Xi Jinping in China on Wednesday to discuss the region's security and the challenges it is faced with.
The US announced suspension of $300 million towards Coalition Support Funds for Pakistan citing that Islamabad has not done enough to fight terror.
As a quick follow up, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa, on special invitation, called on the President of China Xi Jinping in China on Wednesday to discuss the region's security and the challenges it is faced with.
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