Pakistan India track II dialogues: India's game plan
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NEW DELHI: While tensions weigh down India Pakistan relations, the recent resumption of Track II discussions has opened up the possibility of easing strains.
India wants to hold dialogues with Pakistan on its own terms in fields of culture, education and entertainment while leaving aside core issues of Kashmir, Siachen and Terrorism.
It should not become another "Aman Ki Asha".
The South Asian University and denial of visas to Pakistani students eligible for admission; figured in the Neemrana Dialogue held in Islamabad earlier this week, Times of India has reported.
While there was not much change in the positions taken by both countries on key concerns around terrorism and Kashmir, there was some agreement that greater cultural and academic collaboration between the two nations.
India will be holding dialogue on these issues while ignoring Kashmir and terrorism inside Pakistan, which are part of core interest of Pakistan.
Pakistani participants are said to have raised concerns over India denying visas to Pakistani students who applied to the university located in New Delhi.
The SAU was established by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation <link> in 2010 to provide academic opportunities in the subcontinent and promote a sense of the South Asian community. It has a student quota for each country.
ET gathers that both sides agreed that irritants to the visa process should be avoided, especially for academic collaborations specifically piloted to foster regional cooperation.
Amid the chill between the countries, India had denied visas to 15 Pakistani students who were eligible for admission to SAU in 2017-18. Six of them had even paid the registration fee, which had to be refunded. While 58 Pakistanis appeared for SAU entrance exam last year, 50 applicants took the test in Karachi and Lahore this year.