While Sharif talked peace, ministers vowed 'befitting response'

While Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was talking peace with his Indian counterpart in Ufa on Friday, back home in Islamabad his confidante and finance minister Ishaq Dar was engaged in a sharp verbal attack on India.

While Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was talking peace with his Indian counterpart in Ufa on Friday, back home in Islamabad his confidante and finance minister Ishaq Dar was engaged in a sharp verbal attack on India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif ahead of bilateral talks in Russia's Ufa on Friday. (Photo: PIB)

Dar warned India of a "befitting response" in case of any aggression during his response to a motion by senator Sassui Palijo of Pakistan People's Party in the Senate.

Palijo had sought government attention towards the destruction of infrastructure along the border due to heavy mortar shelling by Indian troops.

Read: The ice breaks: How Pakistani media reacted after Modi-Sharif talks

This show of aggression comes even as PM's advisor on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said both sides have agreed to address the issues of Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek through Track II diplomacy.

The Express Tribune quoted Dar as saying that New Delhi should not cast an evil eye on Pakistan's economic prosperity.

"Pakistan's next-door neighbour India could not digest Pak-China Economic Corridor project deal," Dar said. "We would give a befitting response to any Indian aggression (both on economic and war fronts)," he told lawmakers.

"We would give a befitting response to any Indian aggression (both on economic and war fronts)," he told lawmakers.

Dar also said China has rejected India's concerns over the corridor when he recently raised the issue with Chinese leaders.

"But China has shown (Modi) the red flag," he said, adding that Pakistan has been taking up the issue of cross- border violation at international forums as well as with India.

"We have not closed our eyes. We don't have a soft corner for India. We are not beggars," he said.

A day later on Saturday, Sartaj Aziz said both Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif felt the Kashmir issue should be addressed through Track I talks for lasting peace in the region.

"The two sides also agreed to take up these issues under the back-channel Track-II mechanism for better understanding of each other's point of view," the Dawn quoted Aziz as saying.