No dialogue with Pakistan if ceasefire violations continue: Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI (NNI): In a stern warning to Pakistan, India on Sunday said there cannot be a dialogue with Islamabad if ceasefire violations continue.

“If repeated ceasefire violations take place then environment for dialogue itself suffers,” defence minister Arun Jaitley, who also holds the portfolio of finance ministry, said at the India Global Forum meeting.

“Yes, there should be a dialogue. We will welcome it but then the environment for dialogue has to be created by both countries. One of them cannot upset the environment and then say why dialogue is not taking place,” Jaitley said.

The dialogue process was derailed after Pakistan envoy met pro-freedom Kashmiri leaders just a day before the foreign secretary-level talks in August.

“When we further the discussions (after swearing-in invitation) it was through foreign secretary dialogue, this was responded to by an immediate invite to the separatists particularly keeping in mind elections in J&K at the doorsteps. Now this we found completely unacceptable,” he said.

Noting that there are issues in Kashmir, Jaitley said but the valley has been by and large peaceful. “We are expecting a peaceful elections in the valley notwithstanding efforts to disturb the environment.”

He also praised the armed forces for showing exemplary courage in rescue and relief operations during the recent floods in the state, PTI reported.

With regard to the border issue in the eastern region, Jaitley said India is keen for expediting the process to resolve the matter.

“As far as China is concerned, our economic relationship continues to grow, there are a lot of mutual investments in both countries and there are huge trade between two countries,” he said.

“But then we have a pending issue of settlement of boundary itself and the commission appointed in 2003 for that purpose; we do hope it functions now expeditiously. We (will) continue to have a meaningful dialogue with them,” he added.