Pakistan spoilt dialogue by talking to Hurriyat: Sushma Swaraj

New York, Sep 26 :

Pakistan “spoilt” the Indo-Pak dialogue by talking to Hurriyat leaders just four days ahead of the scheduled foreign secretary level talks, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Friday.

“There was an initiative from our side. The prime minister called Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif at the swearing in,” Sushma Swaraj told the media here.

She said once it was decided that bilateral talks should begin, the foreign secretary telephoned and the date and venue for the talks was fixed.

“After this, they (the Pakistan side) meet Hurriyat leaders four days before the talks. Who spoilt it,” Sushma Swaraj, who is here for the UNGA session, asked.

She was commenting on remarks by Pakistan’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz who, referring to India cancelling the Aug 25 talks between the neighbours, said that talks between the two countries can happen only if New Delhi takes the initiative.

Sushma Swaraj said: “The new government has given a new indication”.

Pakistan’s envoy had met hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and then moderate leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq a day after India called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan over the issue.

(IANS)