India non-committal about meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif

Amid the tension on disputed Kashmir borders, India late Thursday indicated that it was non-committal about the likelihood of the meeting between India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif in the coming months in New York. Replying to a question about the proposed meeting between the two premiers in New York next month, the Indian Foreign Ministry stated that in order for a dialogue to take place, there must be a conductive atmosphere. "Certainly, an environment in which terrorism or violence is perpetrated against India is not the right type of place for this," the Ministry Spokesman said. The ministry did not commit to, denied or accepted the possibility of the meeting between Singh and Sharif. "The indicated dates of the meeting were supposed to be in the last week of September as we examine and look into every situation as it evolves," said the ministry. India stressed that it expects Pakistan to abide by its publicly stated commitment not to allow its territories under its control for "violence or terrorism against India." "For us, this is a key priority and we will see how things evolve according to its significance," the ministry stated. Pakistan Premier has publicly stated that he was expecting to meet Prime Minister Singh on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York in September. India, on other hand, backed from the proposed meeting following the ceasefire violations on the disputed Kashmir borders. The relations between the two countries plunged a new low when India accused Pakistani troops of killing five of its soldiers in disputed Kashmir borders on August 6, and the charge was vehemently denied by Pakistani authorities. Since then, the troops of both countries have accused each other of violating the ceasefire by firing on opposite military posts in the disputed borders in Kashmir. In the latest exchange fire on disputed borders, Pakistan on Wednesday claimed that its one army captain and soldier were killed when the Indian troops opened unprovoked fire on its posts in the area of Sakardu. India and Pakistan have agreed in 2003 to observe a ceasefire along the international border andLine of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. Since then, the fragile ceasefire remains in effect between the two countries with occasional reports of violation. According to human rights organization, the separatist guerrillas have waged a war against the Indian rule since 1989, which has claimed lives of more than 70, 000 people.