India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said there are no official Track II dialogues between India and Pakistan.
This clarification comes as reports surface regarding unofficial diplomatic engagements, which could signal a shift in the strained relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The distinction between private interactions and state-sanctioned diplomacy is critical for maintaining India's current foreign policy stance.
Misri addressed reports of two Track II dialogues that took place last week [1]. One meeting was held in Bangkok by a Canada-based organization, while a second occurred in Colombo, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies based in the UK [1].
"There are no official Track II dialogues between India and Pakistan," Misri said.
He said that while various events of this nature occur, those who attend do so in their private capacity. Misri said, "Nothing official, they speak for themselves."
The denial follows a prolonged period of diplomatic freeze. India and Pakistan have had no formal bilateral dialogue since New Delhi abrogated Article 370 in August 2019 [2].
"While numerous such events take place, all those attending do so in their private capacity," Misri said.
By distancing the government from these meetings, India maintains its position that formal engagement requires specific conditions to be met. The events in Bangkok and Colombo represent unofficial channels, often referred to as Track II or Track 1.5, where academics, retired diplomats, and experts meet without the mandate of their respective governments.
“"There are no official Track II dialogues between India and Pakistan."”
The insistence that these meetings are private underscores India's refusal to resume formal diplomatic ties with Pakistan until specific political or security benchmarks are met. By categorizing these dialogues as private, New Delhi avoids the political risk of appearing to negotiate while simultaneously allowing unofficial channels to remain open for intellectual exchange.
