It was after a long break that a new ray of hope had emerged between India and Pakistan after the premiers of both the countries decided to resume the stalled dialogue process.
But things are turning sour again as Pakistan has reportedly denied to provide the voice samples of Mumbai attack mastermind and top Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif had on July 10, met in Russia’s Ufa and agreed to resume the stalled dialogue process besides resolving other issues of terrorism and boosting trade.
The move was welcomed by all including the Kashmiri separatist leaders who expressed satisfaction saying that in the forward movement Kashmir issue must be discussed between the two countries.
However, in a latest development, Pakistan’s refusal to share voice samples of Mumbai attack mastermind Lakhvi, has come as a major blow to the yet-to-be-started dialogue process.
According to TV reports, Sharif’s foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz in a press conference on Monday, July 13, said there was no sufficient evidence on 26/11 Mumbai attacks. “We need more evidence and information on 26/11 attacks to conclude trial,” he said.
Aziz also ruled out any dialogue with India unless Kashmir is not on agenda.
Also, the prosecution team’s chief Chaudhry Azhar said that four years ago, a Rawalpindi court, handling the Mumbai terror attack case, had dismissed an application for obtaining voice samples of Lakhvi on the ground that no such law existed in the country that allowed obtaining of voice samples of an accused. Azhar has said the Pakistan government will not file a fresh petition in the anti-terrorism court requesting for obtaining voice samples of Lakhvi in the 26/11 case.
Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commissioner in India, Abdul Basit, has cautioned against drawing premature conclusions on the statement that the government will not file a fresh petition seeking Lakhvi’s voice samples.
It is not for the first time that a roadblock has come in the dialogue process. Both the countries have stalled dialogue processes numerous times in the past. Recently, India had called off the talks with Pakistan after Pakistani high commission in Delhi invited Kashmiri separatists leaders for a special function.