Germany: K-issue can’t be avoided in Indo-Pak talks

Islamabad, August 31 

Germany today said that “deep issues” such as Kashmir should be a part of the talks between India and Pakistan as dialogue is the only way to move forward, days after the cancellation of NSA-level talks over India's insistence that Kashmir cannot be on the agenda.

“There are deep issues such as Kashmir which cannot be avoided in talks,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said here during a joint press conference with National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz.

Steninmeier, who arrived here last night from Afghanistan leading a delegation of German parliamentarians, said talks were the only way to move forward in the dialogue between the two South Asian neighbours.

He was responding to a question about escalation of tension along the LoC after Pakistan called off the NSA-level talks set for August 23 when India clarified that discussions on Kashmir and a meeting with separatists would not be acceptable.

He asked Pakistan to step up campaign against militants and target them without any discrimination. — PTI