Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Nasir Janjua and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval have talked on phone and agreed to reduce tensions along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir territory.
“Both the NSAs had telephonic contact to discuss the situation in the region,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, confirmed.
This was the first ever contact between the two security advisers after September 18 Uri attack and skirrmishes along the line of control last week.
Meanwhile, in the Indian administered Kashmir, a strict security clampdown has crippled life for the people. A report in The New York Times detailed how the use of pellet guns has blinded hundreds of people. Reports say more than 100 people have been killed, and thousands maimed and injured. The heartbreaking images of violence against women, senior citizens and young people have outraged human rights activists.
According to Aziz, the two national security advisers agreed to reduce tensions, and added that Islamabad wants to reduce tensions on LoC and focus on Kashmir.
The close aide to Nawaz Sharif said New Delhi wants to divert the world’s attention from Kashmir by escalating Pakistan-India tensions.
His remark referred to Indian security forces’ unleashing of gross human rights violations – in the face of spontaneous and indigenous demonstrations – that have drawn international expressions of concern and widespread condemnation across the Pakistani society and political spectrum.
Aziz has also spoken about Islamabad’s efforts to stop Indian state repression in the Indian-controlled part of the UN-recognized disputed territory. He said Prime Minister Sharif explained to the world leaders that incidents of border tensions would continue between both countries until the resolution of Kashmir dispute – one of the oldest on the UN agenda.
Last week, India claimed to have conducted a “surgical strike” inside the Pakistani governed part of Kashmir – known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir – but Islamabad rejected the claim as a ploy, and has capture an Indian soldierrs who appeared to be part of the Indian raid. The UN Military Observers Commission backed Pakistani stance when it said there was no detection of any cross-LoC strike.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif chaired a Parliamentary Conference to evolve a joint national strategy on Pakistan-India standoff over Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by representatives of government’s allies and opposition parties including Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and Pakistan People Party.
Washington has been urging Pakistan and India to hold talks and last week Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj against any escalation.
According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the United States also has indicated its opposition to New Delhi’s threat vis-a-vis restriction on flow of water -from Indian controlled Kashmir into Pakistan – as tool in dealing with Pakistan. The two countries have a World Bank-endorsed water sharing agreement, known as Indus Water Treaty.
