A retired Army officer has said that the backchannel talks between India and Pakistan have been taking place since 2018.
The retired officer, Lieutenant General Sanjay Kulkarni said that the brother of Nawab of Pataudi’s has worked on opening back channels between India and Pakistan since 2018.
“I have reports that the brother of Nawab of Pataudi worked on back channels between India and Pakistan. He has been part of Pakistan’s secret service ISI. He was given the task of opening the back channel with India in 2018,” Lt Gen (Retd) Kulkarni told Brighter Kashmir Editor-in-Chief Farooq Wani in an interview.
The retired army general said he has been working since last few years to break the ice between India and Pakistan. “UAE has also played their part in thawing the relations between India and Pakistan,” he said.
He said that for talks to happen it is imperative that back channels between the antagonist countries are opened in the first place. “Back channels are important first. Both the countries talked in secret in 2013 and 2016 as well,” the retired army general said.
He said that both the countries have talked before also but it was Pakistan that plays spoilsport, ruining the relations between the two hostile countries.
“India always stands for peace. We will do everything to adhere to the ceasefire,” he said during the interview.
He said both the countries were in talking mode but then Pakistan backed off, “February 25 (day of ceasefire agreement) seems to me a bit different as in the way the things have been done by both the DGMOs,” he said.
He said that ceasefire is welcome step. “I hope that Pakistan keeps its side of bargain. It is imperative for Pakistan not to violate ceasefire. If they (Pakistan) will violate the ceasefire we will give them a befitting reply,” he said.
He said that talks and pushing militants across the border cannot go hand-in-hand. “If there will be peace then both the countries will get benefited,” he said.
“It seems that Pakistan’s military as well as civilian leadership wants peace with India this time. Also, the USA has also put the pressure on Pakistan to improve relations with India,” he said.
He said that if Pakistan wants to have a fruitful outcome of Afghanistan talks, then they have no option but to improve their relation with India.
“Pakistan is also trying to settle things in Afghanistan. So, they will try every method possible to keep their eastern front calm and want friendly relation with India,” he told BK editor in the interview.
He said that Pakistan is going through tough times because of Covid and other internal issues.
“Pakistan has also invested in CPEC in huge manner. Its second phase has also recently started. There are many things that is keeping them engaged and that is also a reason why they want friendly relations with India,” he said.
He said that Pakistan has also watched how India has stood to China in Ladakh. “Pakistan knows India’s international standing and reputation. Many nations are standing with India and not with Pakistan,” he said.
He said that China must have also told Pakistan to recognize India standing and settle issues with India. “China must have told them that their projects are running via Pakistan administered Kashmir and if they violating ceasefire with India then it must be difficult for the CEPC to succeed,” he said.