ISLAMABAD: Pakistan again denied it was holding any ‘backchannel’ talks with bordering India but reiterated its desire for peaceful neighbourhood.

“At this stage, there is no back channel [talks] between Pakistan and India,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while responding to question at weekly briefing.

Relations between two neighbouring countries have remained at standstill for last many years but real dip came in August 2019 when New Delhi unilaterally revoked special status of disputed Kashmir region under its illegal occupation. Pakistan has not only downgraded diplomatic ties but suspended bilateral trade with India in reaction to New Delhi’s controversial move.

However, there was chance of possible thaw in ties when two countries engaged in backchannel talks in 2021.

Secret meetings between senior security officials of Pakistan and India in UAE led to renewal of ceasefire understanding along Line of Control (LoC) in February 2021.

Next move was to restore bilateral trade but process came to halt when government of then premier Imran Khan turned down decision to import sugar and cotton from India.

In January this year, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar maintained that ever since current government came to power, there had been no backchannel talks under way between Pakistan and India.

During weekly briefing, FO spokesperson also confirmed that seven Pakistani nationals had drowned in boat wreck near Benghazi city of Libya.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 03 2023

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