Separatists are not a third party: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif

The NSA-level talks were called off at the last minute after India asked Pakistan to give a commitment that it would not meet Kashmiri separatist leaders in New Delhi. Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Pakistan Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, briefed Sharif and cabinet colleagues over the cancellation of talks. The cabinet also discussed the security situation in the country.

Aziz was scheduled to travel to India on August 23 for the first NSA-level talks with his counterpart Ajit Doval but he called off the visit just hours before the proposed dialogue.

Meanwhile, the United States ruled out any role for itself in the revival of Indo-Pak talks, saying it is for the leaders of the two countries to decide on the pace and scope of the peace talks.

“The tensions in the region are significant. We recognise that, and we believe it’s important for leaders of both countries to resume this dialogue and the discussion and to try to come to some resolution,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“What we’ve said, particularly with the tension in Kashmir, is that our position has not changed, that this is an issue that India and Pakistan need to resolve,” Kirby said. “We were encouraged by the constructive interaction… the early constructive interaction between the leaders of India and Pakistan earlier this year in Russia. We are disappointed that the talks didn’t happen. We just encourage India and Pakistan to resume a formal dialogue soon.”