Sushma Swaraj rejects Pakistan peace plan, calls for revival of militancy talks

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj rejected a four-point peace plan for Kashmir proposed by Pakistan but said talks among officials of both countries on terrorism that collapsed in August should be revived. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced his proposal at the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, saying the two nuclear-armed countries should formalise a ceasefire in Kashmir and take steps to demilitarise the divided region. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the UN General Assembly that India remained open to dialogue, "but talks and militancy cannot go together." Swaraj said the talks between national security advisers on all issues related to militancy should be held, as well as an early meeting of senior military officials to address the situation on the border. Planned talks between national security advisers from India and Pakistan were cancelled in August hours before they were due to start, dashing hopes the two might tackle the violence that many fear could one day spark a nuclear showdown.