Bjp Warns Against Unilateral Concessions To Pakistan

The BJP yesterday took strong exception to the recent statements of Pakistani leaders, about Kashmir being a core issue in Indo-Pak relations, and cautioned the Union government against granting unilateral concessions to Pakistan.

Instead of making unilateral concessions, which would encourage Pakistan to adopt pressure tactics, India should clarify its stand on Kashmir, BJP vice-president KL Sharma said.

The four-day secretary level talks between the two countries began yesterday after a gap of about three years. The last round of bilateral talks between them, that ended in a stalemate, took place in Islamabad in January 1994.

The BJP is not opposed to talks as they were necessary to improve bilateral relations, he clarified. But the party doubted whether the current round of talks would yield fruitful results.

Pakistan would have to adopt a constructive approach for meaningful dialogues with India, Sharma said.

The recent statements of Pakistani officials and leaders have clarified that bilateral relations between the two countries would not take firmer roots unless the issue of Kashmir was resolved.

Pakistan president Farooq Ahmed Leghari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief have declared that Kashmir is the core issue, without which Indo-Pak relations cannot be improved, Sharma pointed out. Leghari went a step by stating that Pakistan would continue to assist militants in the Jammu and Kashmir valley, he further pointed out.

India should seize the opportunity at the secretary level talks and clarify its position on the basis of the unanimous parliamentary resolution that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is an integral part of India and the only unfinished task is vacation of that part of Jammu and Kashmir, which is under illegal occupation by Pakistan, Sharma said.

The two countries officials are meeting to have a comprehensive dialogue on all outstanding issues. Indian foreign secretary Salman Haider heads the India side while the Pakistani side is headed by foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmad.