Now Pak sets term for talks

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (PTI) — Pakistan today put up its own precondition for resuming talks with India, saying that New Delhi has to first create a “conducive atmosphere” by stopping what it said “state terrorism” against Kashmiris in the Kashmir valley.

Foreign Office spokesman Tariq Altaf also indirectly hinted that both countries were not ready to hold talks at the moment, saying that dialogue is not something which can be held unless both parties are willing and ready to do so.

Pakistan putting up its own precondition for resumption of stalled dialogue was an obvious retaliation for Indian assertion that Islamabad should first stop promoting cross-border terrorism in the Kashmir valley.

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rejected Pakistan’s claim that it had completed the withdrawal of additional troops from the Line of Control (LoC), including the Kargil sector, and termed it as “an exercise in obfuscation”.

“In actual fact, we have not observed the withdrawal of any Pakistani troops deployed at the LoC,” an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in response to a question.