India Ready for Talks with Pakistan on All Issues including J&K as per Simla Agreement

24 Feb, New Delhi

Union Government Tuesday said India is ready for talks with Pakistan on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the Simla Agreement.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said this in a live Question and Answer session on the Facebook page of the Ministry, a first of its kind initiative.

Akbaruddin said in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will be undertaking a SAARC Yatra to all South Asian countries including Pakistan in March.

On China’s objection to Prime Minister’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the spokesman said the state is an integral and inalienable part of India. He said Indian leaders visit the state from time to time, as they visit other parts of India.

Asked how India will go about its membership at the United Nations Security Council, Mr Akbaruddin replied that reform process is being discussed at the UN General Assembly. He said once a framework is agreed upon, individual countries will be able to vote for candidates, including India, for permanent membership.

On reports of Sri Lanka set to sign a nuclear deal with Pakistan, the spokesperson said, India was the first country with which Sri Lanka has signed a nuclear agreement. He said it indicates the trust that both countries have in cooperating with each other on the sensitive technology.