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Updated: Aug 09, 2015 19:07 IST

Was a session devoted to the “impact of terrorism on state and society” at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference the real reason for Pakistan’s decision not to invite the speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly to the meet?



Sartaj Aziz, the advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on national security and foreign affairs, said Pakistan will never invite the speaker of “occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly” because the country’s position on the Kashmir issue will be compromised.



However, the first workshop of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be held in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8 is devoted to a discussion on terrorism.



According to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) website, the theme for the session is “Impact of terrorism on state and society; the Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ challenge”. The topic was chosen by the “host branch” of the CPA, in this case Pakistan.



Sources in the Indian government said a recent surge in terrorist incidents in India blamed on Pakistan-based terror groups could have influenced Islamabad’s decision not to invite the speaker of Jammu and Kashmir.



“The attacks in Gurdaspur and Udhampur, which were carried out by Pakistani terrorists, could be raised in the workshop at the Commonwealth meet. One can’t rule out the possibility that could be behind Pakistan’s decision,” a source said.

Mohammad Naveed, the Lashkar-e-Taiba member who was captured after the attack on a BSF convoy in Udhampur that killed two troopers, has told investigators that he belongs to Faisalabad city in Pakistani Punjab. However, Pakistan has rejected assertions by Indian officials about Naveed’s nationality and sought more information.

India has said it will boycott the Commonwealth meet if Pakistan does not invite the speaker of Jammu and Kashmir.



Terrorism remains a key irritant in India-Pakistan ties and the National Security Advisors (NSAs) are slated to discuss all issues related to the menace during a planned meeting later this month. The decision to convene the meeting of the NSAs in New Delhi was made when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in the Russian city of Ufa recently.



The theme of the Commonwealth conference is “Renewing the commitment to pluralism and inclusive democracy in the Commonwealth”. Besides terrorism, the meet is scheduled to discuss the response of governments to natural and man-made disasters, fostering religious freedom in Commonwealth democracies, gender-based violence, enhancing good governance and accountability in parliament and enforcing anti-corruption measures.

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