India has strongly denied sending Pakistan a message for a “conversation’’. Reacting to the controversial comment by Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf, who claimed India had expressed a desire for a conversation in an interview, the ministry of external affairs said that the statement was “misleading and fictitious’’.
“The statements made by him are contrary to facts on the ground, misleading and fictitious,’’ said Anurag Srivastava, MEA spokesperson at the weekly briefing on a virtual format. “As regards the purported message, let me make it clear that no such message was sent from our side.”
Yusuf, the newly appointed adviser for national security and strategic policy planning, had claimed in an interview with The Wire that messages had been sent by India for a desire for a conversation. His suggestion, if true, would have been a departure from India's current position on dialogue with Pakistan.
Pressed on who communicated the message, Yusuf remained tight-lipped. “There are multiple ways to get messages across,’’ he said. “You’ll be embarrassed if I tell you, it’s not for this forum—the point is, I’m glad there is a need for a conversation felt. We are ready if what I’ve laid out for you on Kashmir and terror are met—both issues on the table...”
Coming out against the interview with all guns blazing, Srivastava said, “As always, this is Pakistan’s effort to divert attention from domestic failures of the present government and mislead its domestic constituents by pulling India into headlines on a daily basis. The official is well advised to restrict his advice to his establishment and not to comment on India’s domestic policy.’’
The relationship between India and Pakistan has been at rock bottom for the past few years. The revocation of Article 370, however, has pushed it further into an Arctic freeze.
Pakistan has tried to whip up anti-India sentiments at every forum, pushing the narrative that India is guilty of terror. The case against Kulbhushan Jadhav has been an attempt by Pakistan to bolster this theory that has failed to fly internationally.
“Pakistan continues to support, aid and abet cross-border terrorism against India and has also been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations to support terrorist infiltration,’’ said Srivastava. “The Pakistani leadership continues to indulge in inappropriate, provocative and hate speech against India. Such support to terrorism against India and use of derogatory and abusive language are not conducive to normal neighbourly relations.”
Despite the heated exchange, it was business as usual with the Indian High Commission working on facilitating the return of 133 Indians from Pakistan on October 19.
