Uncertainty over NSA Level talks continue in Pakistan

Pakistan's National Security Advsor Sartaj Aziz is scheduled to address a press conference in Islamabad shortly, even as uncertainty over the NSA-level talks continue.

Aziz's interaction with the media in Pakistan is taking place a couple of hours before a similar news conference by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Swaraj will address a press conference in New Delhi at 4 p.m. today, said an Indian Ministry of External Affairs statement.

Though no details were immediately available on what would be the agenda taken up at the press conference by the minister, media circles here believe that it could focus on the Indian Government's position on the forthcoming NSA talks.

Aziz and Swaraj's interaction with media will take place a couple hours after a similar interaction by the Pakistan Foreign Office in Islamabad. The press conference in Islamabad is expected to commence at 1.30 p.m.

The two press conferences are taking place a day after India and Pakistan sparred through verbal and written statements over Islamabad's determination and intention to meet with separatist leaders from Kashmir ahead of the proposed August 23 and 24 NSA talks.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that its High Commissioner's invitation to the Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership on August 23 was very much in keeping with the practice and tradition of the past many years.

While India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sent across a strong message to Pakistan, insisting that there are only two stakeholders in the talks between India and Pakistan and added that New Delhi is committed to discuss the issues peacefully and bilaterally.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz for the talks in the national capital on Monday.