Pakistan’s top foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz plans to attend the Heart of Asia conference in India, suggesting the visit could be used to “defuse the tension,” between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Aziz’s trip to New Delhi for the conference on Afghanistan is going to be the first by a senior Pakistani official this year since violence erupted in the Indian held Kashmir in July.
A spate of events including a militant attack on Indian military camp in Uri which killed 19 soldiers, skirmishes along the Line of Control dividing Pakistani and Indian Kashmir, New self-confessed hand in inflaming insurgency in Balochistan, and the latest killing of seven Pakistanis soldiers in heavy Indian shelling last week, have heightened millitay and political tensions.
The relations between India and Pakistan further soured after the weeks of diplomatic quarrelling, with both Islamabad and New Delhi accusing opposing diplomats of spying and then expelling them.
For Pakistan, a standoff with India is seen as ill-timed as after years of economic challenges, the country is looking to boost growth with the completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which saw Gawadar seaport roll out two-way trade last week. New Dehli opposes the project, fearing its loss of influence in the region.
But Aziz’s comments suggests Islamabad’s search for peace.
“Its a good opportunity to defuse the tension,” Aziz, who is adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs, told the state-run PTV channel.
Despite hinting at a possible detente, Aziz said there was no official meeting scheduled with Indian officials.
“Its early to say. Depends upon the situation,” he said.
Sartaj Aziz said that Heart of Asia is for Afghanistan and Afghanistan is our priority.”
On the same day, Prime Minister Sharif warned that any effort to harm Pakistan’s national security would be met with a “befitting response”.
Accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif, the prime ministerer was inspecting military exercises conducted by the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force in Khairpur Tamewali near Bahawalpur.
“Exercise Raad ul Barq establishes that Pakistan is ready to confront any ambitious and reckless move by its enemies,” he said days after the loss of seven Pakistani troops in Indian shelling in Bhimber area of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Referring to Indian ‘aggression’ in India-held Kashmir, Nawaz said, “The brutal tactics used to curb recent spontaneous and indigenous movement in Jammu and Kashmir have been counter-productive.”
“Killing of civilians and soldiers along the LoC is another act of aggression that warrants international attention,” he added.
“The situation at the border remains sensitive due to India’s grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
“It is extremely unfortunate that South Asia remains prone to confrontation and the security situation remains fragile,” Sharif added.
