The ping-pong game surrouding the NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan has finally come to an end with Islamabad calling off the dialogue less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to begin in New Delhi.

The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad has been informed that Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz will not be coming to Delhi on Sunday. While Islamabad stopped short of using the phrase "calling off" the talks, a statement issued by it blamed New Delhi of laying out conditions for the meeting to go on.

"We have come to the conclusion that the proposed talks would not serve any purpose if they are conducted on the basis of the two conditions led down by the Indian foreign minister," a statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Also read: India warns Pak, says invite to Hurriyat not appropriate



"Considering that many terror "incidents" blamed initially by India on Pakistan eventually turned out to be fake, it is not improbable that India can delay the Resumed Dialogue indefinitely by concocting one or two incidents and keeping the LoC hot," the statement added.

The statement further said,"Pakistan, therefore, reiterates that the scheduled NSA level talks cannot be held on the basis of the preconditions set by India."

Pakistan's decision is unfortunate. India did not set any preconditions. &; Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2015

After External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made it abundantly clear that India will not accept any involvement of third party - Hurriyat - in the talks and that the dialogue between the two nations must only be on terror, Pakistan said it is not ready to accept Indian pre-conditions. Pakistan wanted to include Kashmir and separatist leaders in the crucial talks. "Why is India stopping Hurriyat leaders from meeting us?" Aziz said.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Sushma Swaraj set a deadline till Saturday midnight for Pakistan to respond and said talks can only be held on terror and nothing else.

"There cannot be talk with terror, but there can be talk on terror, and it is a must. The understanding in Ufa clearly stated in writing that the agenda was decided," she said while stressing that Pakistan was violating the understanding.

"Pakistan has time till tonight to reply. If they agree on these two points, they are welcome to Delhi. Otherwise, no talks," the minister added.

When asked about the dossier that Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz flashed during his press conference earlier in Islamabad, the minister said, "Woh dossier denge, hum zinda aatanwadi khada kar denge (If they will give us dossier, we will parade alive terrorist)," Sushma Swaraj said.

She underlined that Islamabad must respect the Simla agreement, which says that no third party should be involved in talks between India and Pakistan. The minister also rejected Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz's claims that India was deliberatly scuttling issues agreed upon between the two neighbouring nations in Ufa, Russia.

Kashmir a core issue: Pakistan

Earlier, talking to reporters in Islamabad, Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz putting the onus back on India and said Pakistan was prepared for NSA-level talks without any pre-conditions. Aziz said he is ready to travel to India as per schedule but without any pre-conditions.

"The statement of Indian external affairs ministry that Pakistan has imposed new conditions totally ignores the last sentence in the note handed over to the Indian high commission that Pakistan is ready to hold NSA-level talks without any pre-conditions," Aziz said while addressing the press conference at the Foreign Office.

"In fact, it is India that has imposed new conditions that Pakistan cannot meet Hurriyat leaders, assuming the right to determine the guest list of for the high commissioner's reception," he said.

Responding to a question, Aziz said, "Pakistan wishes to resolve all issues with India on the negotiating table, but no serious talks with India are possible without discussion on the core issue of Kashmir."

Aziz said a major theme being played up in the Indian media was that Pakistan was apprehensive of the dossier NSA Ajit Doval would present to him during the NSA talks and was therefore looking for an exit.

"After handing over these dossiers to Mr. Doval, I can then also share them with the UN Secretary General," he said