ISLAMABAD: Backchannel discussions between India and Pakistan have met a dead end as both sides have struggled to agree on the steps that may pave the way for slow but gradual growth in the relationship, a media report said citing an informed source.
"Discussions have been going on but have reached a point where things are not moving anywhere," The media reports quoted the source as saying.
The difficulty is how to proceed from this point ahead, the source said, adding that there has been a desire on both sides to end the deadlock.
As per The Express Tribune, Pakistan's political unpredictability was what slowed the procedure down. Following the change of government in Pakistan in April, there was a glimmer of hope for a potential thaw in the relationship. The fact that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to greet his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif upon the latter's election in April served as a catalyst for the optimism.
The source said backchannel contacts that commenced during the PTI government's tenure kicked up momentum in April after the change of government.
However, after "intensive" backchannel negotiations, neither party was ready to give ground on their respective grievances.
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