‘Participation of any nation is reflection of current ties’

New Delhi: After the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in February this year shot down participation of any Pakistani participant in a conference reportedly to be organised by a private university in July this year in New Delhi, MEA said “participation by Pakistan or any other country is a reflection of the current state of relationship”.

This came on a day when the MEA said that there have been over thousand ceasefire violations by Pakistan this year so far (from across the LoC and international border in J&K). The MEA in February had sent a communication to the private university that it “does not recommend participation from Pakistan”.

In response to a question, the MEA spokesperson said, “There are several factors that go into taking a decision on participation of an individual or any country in a conference or a seminar.  If the state of relationship is good, positive, then these things are very smooth and free-flowing and if you have a relationship that is not smooth, then there is due diligence...  Participation by Pakistan or any other country, it is a reflection of the current state of relationship.”

The ministry of external affairs also said ceasefire violations by Pakistan are a “cover to infiltrate terrorists” from across the border. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours continue on the border, leading to Indo-Pak ties hitting rock-bottom.