“We have seen media reports quoting a British newspaper saying that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh contacted Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani before the Mohali meeting between the two Prime Ministers. The report is false,” the prime minister’s media advisor said.
According to “The Times” ( London), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had initiated a secret contact with Kayani 10 months ago through an unofficial envoy that helped prepare the ground for the cricket diplomacy at Mohali.
The newspaper reported on Saturday that the back channel exercise was intended to ensure the powerful Pakistani army’s backing for the peace process and led to hope in Western capitals about India and Pakistan putting their bilateral process on track.
“Manmohan Singh appointed an unofficial envoy to make contact with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani,” the newspaper stated. It did not identify the person.
In the context of Indo-Pak dialogue, the Indian foreign office has been maintaining that Islamabad has assured New Delhi that resumption of peace process had the support of the Pakistani army chief. Some observers here refer to the clout that Pakistan army establishment has on the political dialogue process between the two nations.
Kayani, accompanied by Gen Pasha, visited Kabul last week to meet members of the “High Peace Council", a body set up by Afghan president Hamid Karzai.
“The Times” commented that in the past India has condemned such visits as meddling in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, but remained silent this time. The interpretation may not be correct as India has no reason to comment on such an interaction.