Dismissing Pakistan's remark India says joint statement core of the ties

Media reports quoted sources in the External Affairs Ministry as saying that  anyone can speak anything but the basis of the talks is the joint statement.

India maintained that  it is for the first time that terror is the focus of talks.

Addressing a press conference in Islambabad on the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Ufa, Russia, Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz said, "We need more evidence on Mumbai attack trial."

Pakistan  also said that Kashmir "tops the list of outstanding issues with India", an issue that did not find place in the joint statements made by the foreign secretaries of the two countries on Friday last.

He said  PM Modi and  Sharif's meeting on Friday "was not the formal start of any dialogue process" and none of the agreements was binding.

Aziz said the meet between the two Prime Ministers  was held at the request of the Indian side and served to achieve "one major objective"-reducing tension and creating an environment for meaningful talks on all issues.

His remarks  came just a day after the prosecution team chief said the Pakistan government will not file a fresh petition in court seeking 26/11 terror attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi's voice sample.

Firm on its demand to have Kashmir on agenda to initiate a dialogue between the two countries, Aziz said, "No discussion will take place with India if Kashmir will not be discussed. We will stay firm on all our primary issues."

Nawaz Sharif has faced criticism in his country over the absence of the word Kashmir in the joint statement that was issued after his meeting with PM Modi.