Alleging that a 'coercive environment' existed in Jammu and Kashmir because of which militancy was taking place there, Pakistan on Wednesday suggested reduction of troops in the state as it put forth the ideas of demilitarisation and self-governance at the Foreign Secretary-level talks.
Islamabad also maintained that New Delhi's recent comments on Balochistan, where Pakistani forces were engaged in a crackdown on nationalists, amounted to interference and warned that repetition of such remarks would have negative implications on the entire peace process.
Putting forth the ideas of self-governance and demilitarisation of the state at the Foreign Secretary-level talks which concluded in New Delhi on Wednesday, Pakistan said these have a potential and needed to be explored in pursuit of final solution to the Kashmir issue.
Complete Coverage: Indo-Pak Peace Talks
In pursuit of finding a final solution to the J&K issue, it was inescapable that these ideas be discussed in greater detail, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan told reporters after his two-day parleys with his Indian counterpart Shyam Saran.
Refusing to say specifically what India's response to these ideas was, Khan said he got a 'distinct impression' that New Delhi was open to discussions although there may be 'differences of approach here and there'.
The Pakistan Foreign Secretary emphasised that after positive developments during the two rounds of Composite Dialogue, the process had entered a stage where talks needed to be focussed and speeded up.
"Given the improvement in relations and the number of confidence-building measures undertaken, we should start addressing the problems that have been there for decades," he said.