New Delhi, August 18
In a stern message to Pakistan that India would brook no interference in its internal affairs, New Delhi today called off the August 25 talks between the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries in Islamabad.

Upset over Islamabad setting in motion the process of consultations with Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of crucial talks, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit that the neighbouring country’s continued efforts to interfere in India’s internal affairs were ‘unacceptable’.

In a statement, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “At a time when serious initiatives were being undertaken by the Government of India to move bilateral ties forward, including towards the resumption of a regular dialogue process, the invitation to so-called leaders of the Hurriyat by Pakistan’s High Commissioner does indeed raise questions about Pakistan’s sincerity and show that its negative approaches and attempts to interfere in India’s internal affairs continue unabated.’’

The Foreign Secretary also told the Pakistani envoy that his meetings with Hurriyat leaders undermined the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by Prime Minister Modi on his very first day in office in May.

It was made clear to Islamabad that the only path available to it was to resolve outstanding issues through a peaceful bilateral dialogue within the framework of the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.

Under the present circumstances, it was felt in New Delhi that no useful purpose would be served by the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Islamabad next week.

Official sources said the Foreign Secretary told the Pakistani envoy to refrain from engaging with Hurriyat leaders as such a move would indeed not go down well with New Delhi. It was only after Basit had met Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Shah that India announced the cancellation of the talks.

The move to call off talks is being seen in diplomatic circles as a major departure from the past when the previous UPA government chose to ignore such provocative steps by Islamabad on many occasions.

PM Modi is learnt to have taken a serious view of Islamabad holding parleys with the separatists at a time when he himself was keenly looking forward to the resumption of dialogue between the two countries.

Yesterday, the Congress had questioned the ‘muscular’ foreign policy of the Modi government in the backdrop of Islamabad holding talks with separatists.

Pakistan Foreign office, meanwhile, termed the decision to call off talks a setback for the bilateral ties.