Omar Abdullah, others call for Indo-Pak talks

Some political leaders have pushed for a dialogue between India and Pakistan.  Stating that initiative has to be taken by Pakistan as well as India to reduce tension between the two countries, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah stated that at some point, India and Pakistan must hold talks. 

“Initiative has to be taken by both countries. Pakistan cannot expect only India to take initiative. Let’s be fair, PM Modi took initiative, he went to Lahore to attend the function in Nawaz Sharif’s family. What happened after that? Pathankot. This is a situation where both have to take initiative,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister told the media. 

“I am not saying that you have to go today and hold talks. I am saying that at some point, you will have to have a dialogue. Both the countries have to create an atmosphere for dialogue,” he added. This stand was echoed by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, saying that India must make “every effort” to keep dialogue open with Pakistan. 

My party and I personally have always held that dialogue with our neighbours should always be open. “We can’t have a situation of no dialogue with our neighbours. Atal Bihariji had rightly pointed out that we cannot choose our neighbours. So therefore we should make every effort to make sure dialogue is open with our neighbours,” said Digvijaya Singh. 

However, MoS PMO Jitendra Singh Wednesday made a strong statement against those sympathising with Pakistan.  Former home secretary and current BJP MP, RK Singh has stated that there should not be any bilateral talks with Pakistan. Singh has also hit out at those hinting at talks and those who spoke for Pakistan. 

“These are the people who take money from across the border. And they act as agents of Pakistan, trying to incite or facilitate trouble. Unless we clamp down on them - how can we tolerate them, they are anti-national. I think we need to visit the law and take action according to the law,” Singh reacted. Combing operations continue at the army camp in Nagrota in Held Kashmir where terrorists opened heavy firing Tuesday morning, leading to the killing of seven soldiers. Three terrorists were gunned down by the security forces.