Failure of Modi-Sharif talks affect the countries: Pakistan daily

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Shraif are responsible for the failure of NSA level talks, indicts a Pakistani daily on Sunday.

"Rarely, even by the tortured standards of the Pakistan-India relationship, has there been as much farce and confusion surrounding the now cancelled talks," the Dawn said in an editorial.

"While it was obvious that neither side wanted to call off the talks officially, it was also patently clear that neither side was willing to do much to rescue them in Delhi," the daily said.

It said that India's angry reaction to a proposed meeting between Pakistani National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz and Kashmiri separatists "is perhaps a sign of Modi's true intentions.

"He does not really want dialogue with Pakistan, but does not want to be seen rejecting talks outright in front of the international community. Yet, for all the Indian obstinacy, there have been some serious errors by the government in Pakistan," it said.

"That terrorism was made central to the upcoming round of talks without any mention of the broader Kashmir issue appeared an error on Sharif's part."

It also added, "Perhaps what is truly discouraging is the trend that has become apparent in the Sharif-Modi era.

"The prime ministers themselves mostly have encouraging words about the bilateral relationship, but they allow their underlings to damage goodwill and trust. "

(IANS)