Before NSA talks, Pakistan brings up Samjhauta, India raises border terror

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Lodging a protest over the National Investigation Agency’s decision not to oppose bail to Aseemanand, an accused in the 2007 blasts in which 42 Pakistanis were among the 68 killed, the foreign office said, “The Government of Pakistan has serious reservations on the efficiency of the court in processing and disposal of cases regarding terrorism, especially those involving deaths of Pakistani citizens.”

Pakistan also didn’t mince words on its approach to the Kashmir dispute. In his address at an event here to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said, “Aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir could neither be ignored nor put on the back burner. No matter how much more time their legitimate struggle takes, Pakistan will never abandon Kashmiris and their cause.”

Asserting that “Pakistan has always wanted to have a normal and cooperative relationship with India,” he said, “To this end, it was necessary to settle all outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to improve relations.”

In response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted, “The only struggle in J&K is against Pakistani sponsored terrorism. This will be the subject of the upcoming NSA-level talks.”

.@RajeahLalwani The only struggle in J&K is against Pakistani sponsored terrorism. This will be the subject of the upcoming NSA level talks.

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) August 14, 2015

Sources, meanwhile, said officials from both sides were working hard to prepare dossiers so that they could make their points forcefully. Both countries are expected to accuse the other of being involved in terrorism, sources said.

When Indian envoy T C A Raghavan went to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry during the day, he was told that Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz would come to India on August 23-24.