Indo-Pak deadlock ends: Pakistan calls off NSA talks, India calls it 'unfortunate'

The Opposition took on the government after Pakistan called off the NSA-level talks with India on Saturday night. 

"It is a success for our diplomacy because Pakistan has initiated the calling-off of talks. The way Sushma Swaraj spoke in a straight forward manner today, if she had done in earlier then the separatists would not have got undue publicity. Although all the conflicts have to be sorted out by talks in the end. Now it needs to be seen what India and Pakistan do in future," JD(U) leader Ali Anwar told ANI. 

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Saturday said that no result would have come out of the NSA-level talks if it would have taken place amidst the ongoing ceasefire violations and the continuous terrorists activities.

"No result would have come out of the talks with the ceasefire violations and the terrorist activities taking place. Our government didn't also create suitable environment for the talks. Pakistan has always been stubborn in its approach. Our government should have tried to understand their attitude," Alvi said. 

The issue of Indo-Pak NSA level talks was trending on social networking sites with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah drawing parallel with a tennis match having entered into a "tie- breaker" which will be completed "under lights".

With that return of the Aziz lob by Ms Swaraj this match has gone in to a tie-breaker & will now be played under lights #NSATalksDrama

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) August 22, 2015

For a while now this was the only possible outcome but that doesn't make the sense of disappointment any less acute #NSATalks

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) August 22, 2015

Congress alleged the cancellation of India's NSA-level talks with Pakistan "reflects Modi government's foreign policy failure."

"Confusion, consternation and casual callousness are the three C's of Modi government's foreign policy which lacks both maturity and vision," Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said soon after Pakistan called off the talks in the backdrop of India making it clear that discussions on Kashmir and a meeting with separatists will not be acceptable.

He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi "to rise above pure rhetoric and address the issues of internal and external terrorism whose focal points lie in Pakistan."

"India awaits a decisive and cohesive enunciation of a mature foreign policy that takes care of our strategic concerns, security issues and peaceful bilateral relationship," Surjewala said. 

After Pakistan called off the NSA-level talks with India on Saturday night, Ministry of External Affairs called Pak's decision 'unfortunate'. 

"Pakistan's decision is unfortunate. India did not set any preconditions. We only reiterated that Pakistan respect the spirit of the Simla and Ufa Agreements to which it was already committed," said MEA.

According to reports, the NSA-level talks between Pakistan and India may not happen after all. 

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it does not accept India's pre-conditions and hence the talks between the two countrie cannot take place. 

"Pakistan reiterates that the scheduled NSA level talks cannot be held on the basis of the preconditions set by India. We have come to the conclusion that proposed NSA level talks between the two countries would not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of the two conditions laid down by the Minister (Sushma Swaraj). Main purpose of any dialogue between India and Pakistan is to reduce tensions and restore trust as a first step towards normalization," read the Pak MoFA statement. 

ALERT: Pakistan calls off NSA level talks with India: Pak Media Reports

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Read our full report here: Pakistan calls off NSA-level talks; says pre-conditions put forth by India are 'unacceptable'

Ahead of the meeting between Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz and India's NSA Ajit Doval, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has briefed Doval of Pakistan's involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. 

FLASH: 26/11 Special PP Ujjwal Nikam met NSA Ajit Doval & briefed him on Pak's involvement in Mumbai attack,also gave some documents:Sources

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria met NSA Ajit Doval on Saturday, according to reports. In their meeting, Maria reportedly provided proof to Doval showing Dawood Ibrahim's hand in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. 

Dawood's alleged involvement in the 26/11 attacks will be reportedly brought up during NSA talks between Doval and Pakistan Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz.

Moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Bilal Lone and separatist leader Shabir Shah detained at Delhi airport.

Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Shah, was detained on Saturday on arrival at the Delhi airport and will not be allowed to meet Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz here tomorrow. As soon as he deplaned, central security agencies along with Delhi Police asked him about the place where he would be staying in Delhi and later drove him there.

FLASH: Separatist leader Bilal Lone detained at Delhi Airport, taken to his residence in Delhi.

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Read more: Separatist leader Shabbir Shah put under house arrest

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday said that whenever Kashmir is a topic of discussion, the people of J&K should be involved. 

"Much to the dismay of people of Jammu and Kashmir, again India and Pakistan are headed for a deadlock. People of Kashmir are main stake-holders, whenever Kashmir issue comes, Govt of India needs to understand it’s issue of people. Whenever India and Pakistan have to move forward on Kashmir, they have to take along the people of J&K. There are double standards as far as approach of Indian Govt towards Kashmir issue is concerned, specially Hurriyat," he said. 

After External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj stressed that only terror issues will be discussed in the upcoming NSA talks with Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh too repeated the same at an event in Lucknow. 

India is ready to talk on only and only 'terrorism' , this was decided in Ufa: Home Minister Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/PaJPGL97kB

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Ques: Sartaj Aziz said Kashmir is an important topic in talks. Rajnath Singh:Already decided in Ufa,terrorism will only be discussed

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Speaking to ANI, Yasin Malik said that Kashmiri people will never surrender their ownership of Kashmir. 

"Kashmiri people are real owners of Kashmir, they will not surrender their ownership. We were having hopes that issue will be resolved through dialogue process but its becoming a murky situation. People of Kashmir will continue their struggle until they achieve their goal of freedom," he said. 

Sushma Swaraj added that talks with Pakistan will only take place if they agree to India's position. 

"Pakistan has time till midnight to assure that the talks will be on terrorism. The talks will only be held once we get Pakistan's reply," Swaraj said. 

She further added, "No NSA talks doesn't mean India and Pakistan dialogue will cease forever. Pakistan needs to understand what we are saying."

Woh dossier denge,hum zinda aadmi denge: EAM Sushma Swaraj pic.twitter.com/kUstgPgX4z

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Also read: Pakistan has violated the UFA agreement, says Sushma Swaraj

At the press conference, Sushma Swaraj confirmed that India will stick to the issue of terror only; any other issue will be discussed later. 

"There will be no room for third parties; talks will be on terror only. The issues that Pakistan is wanting to talk about, will be touched upon only after terror and violence is discussed."

Talks will be between countries, no room for third parties: EAM Sushma Swaraj pic.twitter.com/BDZ2LcA8GT

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday addressed media on India-Pakistan NSA talks. 

At the press conference she said, "Not all interactions between India and Pakistan can be considered 'dialogue'. At Ufa, PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had agreed upon discussinf terrorism and maintaining peace on the border. "

She further added that at Ufa three meetings were decided. One was between DG BSF anf Pakistan Rangers for peace at the border, the other was of DGMOs for ceasefire violations. The third meeting was the NSA level talks on terror. 

EAM Sushma Swaraj addressing media on India-Pakistan NSA Talks pic.twitter.com/QUGoVudVee

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha reacts on Aziz's press conference

I have heard Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz's statement and I am not at all surprised by that statement. In sheer shamelessness there is no other country which can match Pakistan. We should just tell Mr.Sartaj Aziz that he is not welcome and put an end to this ongoing drama.

I am still prepared to go to New Delhi without any pre-condition: Sartaz Aziz

Addressing the media ahead of NSA talks, Pakistan NSA Sartaz Aziz said that he is still prepared to go to New Delhi without any pre-condition. 

Aziz Said, "Last year India canceled talks between the Foreign Secretaries scheduled for 25th August 2014 in Islamabad. The reason for this regretful second cancellation, if it happens, will be the same. "

He further added, "It was India which introduced a new condition with its advice that Pakistan could not meet Hurriyat leaders. On my part I’m still prepared to go to New Delhi for NSA talks without any pre-condition."

Stating that they were very disturbed about the arrest of Hurriyat leaders, Aziz said, "It is violation of their fundamental rights. There is no deviation from the agenda agreed in Ufa to be discussed. India is wrong in saying that Kashmir is not part of UFA act," said Aziz

He further said thet he will be carrying three dossiers on India's RAW activities in Pakistan, "He said, "If I don't get opportunity to hand over the dossiers to Indian NSA in New Delhi, I hope to give it to him in New York next month if he comes."

"Don't expect that there will be a breakthrough in NSA-level talks but it will help evolve a mechanism to address issues. Since Prime Minister Modi has come to power they want dialogue on their terms and conditions without Kashmir which is not possible for us," said Sartaj Aziz

Aziz also said that cancellation is not yet confirmed from either side, so they were ready to go as per schedule without any pre-condition."No serious dialogue is possible with India unless Kashmir is included," he said.

Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz on Indo-Pak NSA level talks pic.twitter.com/wLrBvxpVOY

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Just In | Separatist leader Shabbir Shah detained at Delhi Airport. http://t.co/urfg7LXuYv pic.twitter.com/KjxLGg7k7j

— dna (@dna) August 22, 2015

Separatist leader Shabir Shah to arrive in Delhi shortly: Security tightened at Delhi Airport. pic.twitter.com/VtrUUdVZ5o

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

Dialogue only on terror: Rajnath Singh

The agenda for Indo-Pak NSA level talks was agreed upon in Ufa, Pakistan must not deviate from this agenda. We are willing to hold dialogue with pakistan on issue of terror, only terror.

Salman Khurshid slams government

Slamming the government, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, "I don’t know what is purpose of talks and where will the talks take us when we are unable to talk amongst ourselves. Has government talked to opposition, to people who have handled Pakistan policy for years? Government running a policy based on 2-3 people who think they will pull out a rabbit out of hat; it’s very disappointing policy.

CPI (M) slams Government for being confused about its Pak policies

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) criticised the BJP-led NDA government for being confused about its policies on Pakistan.

We can't change the neighbour. Only the dialogues can resolve the issues, but this government is confused about its policies on Pakistan, says CPI(M) leader Bindra Karat.

Indo-Pak dialogue should continue. The government must address the cross border terrorism that includes the infiltration in the forthcoming NSA-level talks, she added.

Responding to a question on separatist, Karat said: ?the separatist is a different issue and it must not be added to Indo-Pak dialogue.

Uncertainty over NSA level talks continue: Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do a press conference in Islamabad later today.

Being adamant about meeting Pakistan's NSA Sartaj Aziz, Shabbir Shah said that they will not back out of the talks between India and Pakistan.

We will meet Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz ji tomorrow at the Pakistan House in the evening. We have been going since 25 years to meet with Pakistan, be it, NDA Government led by Atal ji or UPA, Shah told media.

Asserting that peaceful dialogue is the only way to resolve issues, he said, "If India doesn't hold talks how will peace be established in South-Asia. We will not back out. We will go to Delhi and meet them. It is important for us to go so that we can seek answers from Pakistan's side also, he added.

Separatist leader Shabbir Shah arrives at Srinagar Airport, will depart for Delhi from here. pic.twitter.com/a6mxsvoCgF

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2015

 Amid war of words, separatist leader Shabir Shah leaves for Delhi to meet Pakistan NSA Sartaz Aziz.