Let Pakistan bring the dossier, we will show them a zinda terrorist, says Sushma Swaraj

The MEA on Saturday held a press conference to clear the air over the confusion surrounding the National Security Advisers' level talks between India and Pakistan.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj countered Pakistan's charge that India is not serious about discussing "all outstanding issues" between the two countries as was agreed upon in the Ufa joint statement. She said that the NSA level talk was meant to create an atmosphere to resume composite dialogue between the two countries.

Sushma clarified that as per the spirit of the joint statement at Ufa following the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, there were supposed to be three different categories of talks.

"One meeting was supposed to be between DG BSF and Pakistan rangers on the issue of peace at the border, another talks of DGMOs to address the issue of ceasefire violations."

She said that both countries mutually agreed upon the fact that NSA level talks were supposed to be confined to terrorism.

On the issue of whether the talks were still on Sushma said that, "Pakistan is most welcome to come to India. But I would urge them not to involve any third party in the talks and confine the talks to terrorism."

Pakistan has remained firm on its decision to hold talks with Kashmiri separatists during the Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz's visit to the capital.

Sushma also countered Pakistan's charge that India was running away from talks. She said: "There was immense pressure on India to stop these talks, pressure from the country and the opposition. There have been 91 ceasefire violations and not only that there were two terror attacks. But we still went ahead with the talk on the philosophy that if there can be no talk and terror, there can at least be talk on terror."

With regard to Pakistan handing over the dossier on RAW's involvement in encouraging terrorism in Pakistan and Balochistan, she said, "Let them bring the dossier, we will show them a zinda terrorist."

Pakistani National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz is scheduled to travel to New Delhi on 23 August for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. In a press conference in Islamabad he reiterated that he was ready to travel to India as per schedule, but without any pre-conditions.

Aziz was critical of the Indian government for its insistence that he should not meet Kashmiri separatist leaders while in New Delhi. He said this was akin to controlling the guest list for a reception being held for him at the Pakistan High Commission.