India has rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s four-step “peace initiative” proposed at the UN General Assembly. The plan sought to formalize a ceasefire in Kashmir and move towards demilitarizing the region.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the General Assembly on Thursday, “we don’t need four points, we just need one: Give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk.” Earlier in a tweet on Wednesday, the spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup, similarly said, “To de-militarize Kashmir is not the answer, to de-terrorize Pakistan is.”
India however did say that talks on terrorism between the two countries that collapsed in August should be held. Swaraj said, “[i]f the response is serious and credible, India is prepared to address all outstanding issues through a bilateral dialogue.”
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the General Assembly on Thursday, “we don’t need four points, we just need one: Give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk.” Earlier in a tweet on Wednesday, the spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup, similarly said, “To de-militarize Kashmir is not the answer, to de-terrorize Pakistan is.”
India however did say that talks on terrorism between the two countries that collapsed in August should be held. Swaraj said, “[i]f the response is serious and credible, India is prepared to address all outstanding issues through a bilateral dialogue.”