Pakistan 'prime perpetrator' of terrorism: India

New Delhi [India], Aug. 26 (ANI): Asserting that justifying terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of India is not a serious basis for a result oriented dialogue, New Delhi on Friday hit out at Islamabad saying that Pakistan is the 'prime perpetrator' of terrorism' and called on the hostile neighbour to shows sincerity towards promoting good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence. This development comes in the wake of India turning down Pakistan's invitation to hold talks in Jammu and Kashmir, following which Islamabad briefed the ambassadors of the five UN permanent members and the envoy of the European Union on its exchange of letters with India. However, India has continued to maintain its tough stand on the matter saying that is willing to proceed with dialogue on ending cross-border terrorism and exemplifying Pakistan as the "prime perpetrator of terrorism" in the region. Addressing a press conference here, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that India seeks a result oriented dialogue on the subject of Jammu and Kashmir, which aims at the early vacation by Pakistan of it illegal occupation. "Foreign Secretary has retreated that the basis for further discussion are Shimla Agreement the 1972, the Lahore declaration of 1999 and the joint statement of 2004. Foreign Secretary has underlined that as far as terrorism is concerned, not just India but the larger region is acutely that Pakistan is actually a prime perpetrator. The recent examples of Pakistan's policy are the apprehension in India of LET trained Pakistani terrorist Bahadur Ali," Swarup said. He further stated that Jaishankar had made it explicit that the agenda before India and Pakistan today is to put an end to cross border terrorism and incitement to violence from Pakistan and that New Delhi has conveyed its readiness to be available to engage anytime at mutual convenience on these issues. However, he mentioned that justifying terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of India is hardly a serious basis for a result oriented dialogue. "He (Jaishankar) hoped that the government of Pakistan will reconsider its approach and shows sincerity towards promoting good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence. This will also send a larger message to a region which is deeply troubled by the policies that are made from Pakistan. This is the message Foreign Secretary has conveyed, that makes it very-very clear how we are looking at the dialogue with Pakistan and what are the issues of central importance in the relationship," Swarup said. Pakistan on Thursday called on the international community to play its role in the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, saying it wants to resolve it in a peaceful manner and through result-oriented and sustained dialogue. "Pakistan would continue its moral, diplomatic and political support for peaceful struggle for right to self-determination," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said during a weekly briefing. Asserting that Kashmir remains the top issue on negotiating table, he said Pakistan wants to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner and through result-oriented and sustained dialogue, which is not fragile enough to break down after some incident. Responding to a question, he claimed Pakistan and India discussed Kashmir issue bilaterally several times during the last six decades but the dialogue did not meet success due to Indian intransigence. (ANI)