BJP downplays Pak's remarks on Kashmir, says such statements intended for domestic audience
New Delhi: Downplaying Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz's remarks that no dialogue with India will take place without including Kashmir issue, BJP on Monday said such statements are intended for domestic audience and bilateral talks will proceed on the lines of Ufa joint statement of the two countries.
BJP, which had termed as "game-changing" the outcome of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, asserted that the joint statement will guide bilateral engagements.
Read: After Modi-Sharif talks, Pakistan wants 'more evidence' on 26/11 case
"A lot of statement coming from others are also possibly intended to address their domestic constituencies. As far as we are concerned, the discussion, engagement will largely happen on the lines of the joint statement," party spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said.
Rao's comments came following statement by Aziz, who is also Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security, that the talks cannot take place without Kashmir being on the agenda.
Read: Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy: Pakistan
Pakistan also needed "more evidence and information" from India on the Mumbai attack case, Aziz said.
Rao said the Ufa joint statement talked about the engagement of officials of both sides at different levels. "The bilateral engagement will proceed along the line of the joint statement," he said.
Read: Modi-Sharif meet gets mix response from Pakistan's parties, media
Congress accused Narendra Modi of "knee-jerk" reaction in diplomacy with Pakistan and questioned the justification of his meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Russia, after Islamabad sought "more evidence and information" on Mumbai attacks case and asserted that talks cannot take place without Kashmir on the agenda.
"It is very clear that the Pakistani establishment does not want the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror strikes to be punished. With this background, where was the justification to have a meeting at the level of two Prime Ministers? Prime Minister Narendra Modi is answerable to the country," Congress spokesperson and former Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said.
Read: 'Will support all steps to strengthen dialogue': US on Narendra Modi-Nawaz Sharif meet
Another party spokesperson, R P N Singh, said it was "extremely surprising" that this statement was made by Pakistan, and alleged it was "very evident that they are not bringing those responsible for 26/11 (attacks) to justice".
Targeting Modi, Singh said it is "unfortunate that the Prime Minister has been engaging in "knee-jerk reactions" as far as diplomacy with Pakistan is concerned.
"It is because of this lopsided diplomacy he has followed with Pakistan, we have over one thousand ceasefire violations.”
Read: Mumbai attacks probe: Pakistan to not file petition requesting Lakhvi’s voice sample
"I appeal to the Prime Minister to take corrective steps so that people like (Zakiur Rehman) Lakhvi are arrested and tried and outfits of Pakistan abetting terror in India are banned," Singh said.
Congress spokesperson Singh wondered how can Pakistan make such statement now and said, "They had signed a joint declaration. Why did they not say it then? As far as Lakhvi is concerned, Pakistan has been given all the evidences".
