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J&K assembly speaker will not be invited to Commonwealth meet

Islamabad - The national security adviser said that the conference will go ahead as scheduled, with over 70 per cent of the delegates having confirmed their participation.

Pakistan has said that it would not invite the assembly speaker from the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the Commonwealth Speakers' Conference being held here in late September.
"We will never invite the speaker of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to the upcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be held in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8," Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz told newsmen here, adding that it is in consonance with "our principled position on Kashmir as a disputed state".
Speaking at a book launching ceremony in Islamabad, Aziz said Pakistan's principled position on Jammu and Kashmir will be compromised if the speaker of Indian-held Kashmir's legislature is invited to the conference because Pakistan does not recognise and accept the said assembly.
The national security adviser said that the conference will go ahead as scheduled, with over 70 per cent of the delegates having confirmed their participation.
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr T.C.A. Raghavan, talking on the occasion, said Pakistan had broken protocol by not inviting the speaker of Indian Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. "In the past Pakistan has invited delegations from Kashmir, "he said.
Talking about bilateral talks with India, Aziz said Pakistan had not as yet responded to India on the national security advisers' meeting proposed by the latter on August 23 in New Delhi.
"Pakistan is preparing its agenda for the meeting and consultations for that are underway . after finalisation of the agenda, it would be shared with India."
Aziz regretted that Pakistan was blamed for all terrorist attacks in India, even before investigations are conducted. "This will be taken up at the national security advisers' meeting," he said.
Regarding Pakistan's fight against terrorism, Aziz said Pakistan did not differentiate between good and bad Taleban, adding that action had been taken against all.
Responding to a question on peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taleban, which had been brokered by Pakistan and were stalled after the announced death of Mullah Omar, Aziz said the postponed second round of talks will take place in Pakistan soon.
He hoped that these talks will go a long way in bringing peace and stability to the region.
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