No offer for talks from Pakistan: Government

New Delhi: Despite India on Wednesday saying that there is no request from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting with Indian leaders, an informal meeting between the Pakistan PM’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz and finance minister Arun Jaitley or even Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Conference is not being completely ruled out by sources. However, chances currently appear slim in the wake of Tuesday’s terror attack at Nagrota.  

“No request has been received from Pakistan (for such a meeting),” MEA officials said. Sources said India’s stand is well-known that “talks and terror” cannot go on together. But a courtesy meeting between Mr. Aziz and Mr. Jaitley or PM Modi himself cannot be ruled out.

Speculation is rife that amid the current public mood of anger in India following the attack on at Nagrota near Jammu on Tuesday by Pakistan-backed militants in which seven Indian soldiers including two officers were killed, chances of a meaningful even if informal meeting or dialogue between Mr. Aziz and the Indian leadership to break the ice between the two countries appear very remote.

However, New Delhi is waiting and watching the situation, given speculation that the new Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa is a moderate which may give Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to assert himself politically and hold out the olive branch to India. Mr Aziz is a close aide of Mr Sharif.