NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s ambassador to India has defended his recent talks with Kashmiri separatists, saying dialogue is the only way to find a lasting peace.

Abdul Basit spoke in New Delhi, two days after India called off diplomatic talks with Pakistan because Basit met with separatist leaders.

India said the meeting undermined efforts to thaw relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

But India has tolerated such meetings in the past, which suggests the country’s new government is taking a harder line against Pakistan.

The envoy said Pakistan remains hopeful of strengthening ties with India.

Abdul Basit said Pakistan was confident of “overcoming this setback” after Delhi called off the diplomatic talks in Islamabad.

“We believe Kashmiris are a stakeholder in this (diplomatic) process,” Basit said, explaining that the meetings with the separatists were a “longstanding” practice.

“We will not allow the process (of stronger ties) to be distracted in any way,” Basit said, adding, “You will find Pakistan seriously committed to the process.”

“There is no reason why we should lose hope of a strong bilateral relationship,” he said.

Last month, the two countries scheduled talks between their foreign secretaries for August 25.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise move to invite his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, to his swearing-in ceremony in May spurred hopes that peace talks between the two countries could resume.

The warmer ties were dented last week when Modi accused Islamabad of waging a “proxy war” by sending militants to attack Indian targets.

There have also been several cease-fire violations across the Kashmiri border that have angered India.

The United States earlier this week termed the cancelation of the talks disappointing.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US was engaging with the Indian and Pakistan governments to support efforts to improve their relations.

The high commissioner’s move to meet with Kashmiri separatists comes at a time of political turmoil in Pakistan where Sharif is facing calls from opposition leader Imran Khan to leader to resign.

Khan has led thousands of supporters to rally in Islamabad and has called for mass civil disobedience to unseat the government.