Pakistan refuses backdoor talks with India

Islamabad - Pakistan has made it clear that it would only engage with India through quiet or conventional diplomacy.

Pakistan has refused to engage in backdoor talks after some powerful countries as well as certain Muslim states sought de-escalation of the ongoing tensions between the two neighbours over the Kashmir issue, the media reported on Monday.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was also requested to tone down his verbal attacks on his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, an informed official told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
However, Pakistan has turned down the requests and made it clear that it would only engage with India through quiet or conventional diplomacy after New Delhi was persuaded to meet certain conditions.
Since India on August 5 revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status, Khan has repeatedly targeted Modi in domestic as well as international forums.

Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal, at his last weekly briefing, had categorically said there was no backdoor diplomacy under way with India to normalise the situation.

• Pakistan