Pakistan formally invites India for talk on Kashmir issue

"The Foreign Secretary called in the Indian High Commissioner this afternoon (15 August 2016) and handed over a letter addressed to his Indian counterpart, inviting him to visit Pakistan for talks on Jammu and Kashmir dispute that has been the main bone of contention between India and Pakistan," read a statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The letter highlights the international obligation of both the countries, India and Pakistan, to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions," it said.

India had earlier rejected such  an invitation.

Rejecting Pakistan's 'purported communication' regarding Jammu and Kashmir from their external ministry, Indian MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the country is open to dialogues with the neighbouring nation pertaining to relevant issues.

Sharing a post on Twitter, Swarup said, "India would welcome a dialogue on contemporary and relevant issues in India-Pakistan relations."

"At this time they include a stoppage of Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism, infiltration of terrorists like Bahadur Ali, incitement to violence and terrorism across the border, parading of internationally recognized terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin, and sincere followup on the Mumbai attack trial and the Pathankot attack investigation in Pakistan," Swarup stated.

"A communication was apparently delivered to our High Commission in Islamabad on August 12. I can only characterize its contents that propose sending supplies to theIndian state of Jammu and Kashmir as absurd," his post added.

Mocking Pakistan's exports, Swarup said, "India and others in the region have already received enough of Pakistan's trademark exports- international terrorism, cross-border infiltrators, weapons narcotics and fake currency."

"We completely and categorically reject this purported communication from the Pakistan Foreign Ministry," he said.

The comments came after Abdul Basit, Pakistan's High Commissioner in Delhi made a series of provocative comments.

Celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day on Sunday, Basit said, "As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we dedicate this independence day to the independence of Kashmir."

The neighbouring country has been critical of India since the encounter death of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in Kashmir.