India OK’s Foreign Ministers’ meet but says won’t resume dialogue

Against the backdrop of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the resumption of dialogue between the two countries, the Government on Thursday confirmed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi will meet  on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week. It will be the first such high-level meeting between the two sides since the Pathankot terror attack in January, 2016.

The Government, however, sought to clarify that it will be “just a meeting” and “not resumption of dialogue.”

“Let’s distinguish between meeting and dialogue. This doesn’t change our stand on terrorism,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

“We have just agreed to the meeting. The agenda is not finalised,” Kumar said.

Making this assertion here, Kumar said the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers will take place on Pakistan’s request. Khan, who took charge as Pakistan Prime Minister last month, in his letter to Modi had specifically sought the meeting between the two Ministers.

Indicating that the forthcoming meeting between Sushma and Qureshi does not indicate any change in India’s policy towards Pakistan, the MEA spokesperson said the date for the meeting was being finalised by the permanent missions of the two countries in New York. He said the agenda for the meeting has also not been finalised.

He said Sushma will also participate in the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA. The first day of the high-level UNGA debate will begin on September 25 and will last for nine working days.

India, however, rejected Khan’s proposal for a SAARC summit in Pakistan, saying the atmosphere is not conducive there. Khan is learned to have written in his letter to Modi that Pakistan remains ready to discuss terrorism. Khan said the two Foreign Ministers could explore the way forward. He said India and Pakistan should resolve all outstanding issues, including terrorism and Kashmir through dialogue. Khan also said the SAARC Summit in Islamabad “will offer an opportunity for you to visit Pakistan and for us to re-start the stalled dialogue process.”

Rejecting the SAARC suggestion, Kumar said, “We have agreed to their request for a meeting but do not read too much into it.” Sources said the resumption of dialogue was not possible as “talks and terror can’t go together.”

India is expected to strongly raise the issue of terrorism emanating from the Pakistani soil during Sushma-Qureshi meeting. Kumar said Sushma will also raise the issue of Kartarpur Sahib during the meeting. The Kartarpur Sahib shrine in Pakistan is revered by Indian Sikhs, who have been seeking permission for easier access to the pilgrimage. The issue gained limelight after Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu’s assertion following his return from Khan’s swearing-in that Pakistan had agreed to give access to the shrine for the devotees from India. The MEA, however, maintained that there was no official communication in this regard from Pakistan.

Sushma had visited Islamabad in December 2015 for a Heart of Asia conference and it was the last time a substantive dialogue between the two countries took place. The joint statement issued then said Foreign Secretaries should explore modalities under the comprehensive dialogue. Terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase in January 2016 derailed the dialogue process.

Incidentally, Khan’s offer for dialogue was reported a day after a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was shot dead by Pakistani forces on the International Border in Jammu region on September 18. His body was also mutilated. India lodged strong protest with Pakistan over the incident.