Track II India-Pakistan talks not official, don’t count: MEA
NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri dismissed reports in the past few months about an India-Pakistan “track II” dialogue, saying India takes no cognisance of such events that don’t hold much value. Responding to a media query in Seychelles, Misri said dozens of these events take place around the world on a variety of subjects. “There’s nothing new, nothing special about these events. As far as we are concerned, these are private events organised by private parties,” said the foreign secretary. “I cannot speak for the govt of Pakistan, but as far as govt of India is concerned, there is no official participation, no official support or involvement, in these visits,” Misri reiterated. He said anybody from India who is participating in these events — retired diplomats, retired military officials, members of civil society — speak for themselves and represent their own point of view. “They do not in any way, they cannot in any way represent the view of govt of India,” he said.We really take no cognisance of these events. They really don’t hold much value, as far as we are concerned,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri said. Indian officials have maintained — since a report about “track II” dialogue first appeared on a news channel a few months ago — that govt has nothing to do with the talks in which retired officials participate in private capacities. Indian officials stopped participating in such events organised by an international think tank after the Pahalgam terrorist attack last year in April.
