Cancellation of NSA talks unfortunate, Pak to blame: Rajnath

Squarely blaming Pakistan for the cancellation of the NSA-level talks between the two countries, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed it “unfortunate” and hinted that there was no possibility of resuming a dialogue in the near future.

“It is unfortunate that the talks were cancelled....the blame lies with Pakistan....it seems Pakistan was not serious about the talks,” Singh said in an informal chat with reporters here on Sunday.

He said the agenda of the talks had been decided beforehand. “Both the countries had agreed earlier that the talks would focus on terrorism,” the minister added.

Singh referred to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa. He said the leaders had decided that the two countries would talk on terrorism.

“Pakistan changed the agenda of the talks on the instruction some third party,” Singh said, apparently referring to the extremist elements in Pakistan. “Pakistan should not deviate from what had been settled earlier,” he added.

The minister reiterated that India always favoured a dialogue between the two countries. He also made it clear that the onus for starting talks afresh lay with Pakistan. “We are always for talks....it is now up to Pakistan to take the initiative,” the minister remarked.