Bjp Lauds Clinton Stand On Kashmir

The BJP yesterday welcomed the United States President Bill Clintons comment that the US has no role to play between India and Pakistan on the controversial Kashmir issue.

The party described this as the beginning of Americas realisation of the post cold war realities, and hoped this would find reflection in the countrys South Asia policy. The BJP, however, took strong exception to Pakistans raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at the UN and his discussions with Clinton indicated the Pakistani establishments inability to break free from its old mindset, BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said.

It is unfortunate that Pakistan should ignore areas of common interest between the sub-continents neighbours and harp on an issue that has vitiated Indo-Pakistani relationship for half a century, she said. Sharifs offer of a non-aggression pact is of no consequence since it is conditional to India conceding Pakistans misplaced and ill-founded claim over the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, she added.