Former Indian diplomat lauds India's move to call off talks with Pakistan

Former Indian Consul General to Karachi Rajiv Dogra has lauded the NDA Government's decision to cancel foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan.

Dogra told ANI, "This was the correct decision taken by the government. The Pakistani High Commission decided to defy the Government of India and to defy its request made personally by the Foreign Secretary of India. So, the government had no other alternative but to take this step."

Dogra added, "Talks are meaningless if you are meeting with terrorists, because if the so-called separatists engage in violence, if they indulge in anti-India activities, they are nothing but terrorists. (Prime Minister) Modi has effectively told Pakistan that it can either deal with the terrorists or do business as civilized states are expected to do at the governmental level."

Dogra said he was not surprised over the United States terming the cancellation of talks as "unfortunate".

"As far as the U.S. is concerned, whatever it is doing, it is doing in self interest. It views India only through a Pakistani prism, and now, more particularly, through its interests in Afghanistan," he told ANI.

He also expressed his dismay over reports that the Chinese Army had entered 25 kilometers inside Indian territory.

Describing the alleged development as a rude wake-up call, he said, "The provocation by the Chinese side is deliberate and calculated.