Congress leader suggests calling off upcoming meeting between foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan

Congress leader Manish Tewari said on Thursday that with Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, reportedly issuing a statement saying that the terrorist movement in Jammu and Kashmir needs to be given moral material and all other forms of support, then the incumbent NDA Government should call off the forthcoming foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries.

Tewari told ANI, "If the Pakistan High Commissioner feels that the terrorist movement in Jammu and Kashmir needs to be given moral material and all other forms of support. Then, I would like to ask this government that what is their foreign secretary going to do in Islamabad on the 25th of August. Why doesn't India call off the foreign secretary talks?"

Talking of the series of events, he said, "When the BJP was in the opposition, they talked about terror and talks not going hand in hand. Then, you invite the Prime Minister of Pakistan notwithstanding the attack on our consulate in Herat, which was traced back to ISI instrumentalities".

"Then, the Prime Minister goes and declares in Ladakh that Pakistan is waging a proxy war. The High Commissioner of Pakistan supplements it by saying that we will continue extending moral and material support to separatists in Kashmir", he added.

Putting a question to the ruling party, Tewari asked, "Then what is their foreign secretary going to do in Islamabad? If you have the courage and gumption, if you do believe that Pakistan is waging up a proxy war, if you really want to take serious notes of the statements of Pakistani High Commissioner then you should call off the foreign secretary level talks immediately".

"And, if you do not do so, then you must tell this nation, is there some invisible hand or force which is pressurizing you into a deafening silence!", he added.

Earlier today, during the celebration of Pakistan's 68th Independence Day at Pakistan High Commission, Abdul Basit, the High Commissioner of Pakistan said, "I would also like to extend moral and diplomatic support to the people of J and K in their legitimate struggle, which is enshrined in UN charter and universal declaration of human rights".