Congress mocks Modi's foreign policy, says he has no knowledge of diplomacy

The Congress Party on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is clueless about diplomacy, especially in the context of Pakistan.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal condemning the recent Pampore attack, said, "In Pampore, brave Indian soldiers were martyred. For last five months, 50 terrorists have crossed the border. They have continued attacking our soldiers. We want to ask the Prime Minister, till when are we supposed to suffer these attacks?"

Sibal also targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying while our security personnel are getting martyred, they were busy inviting the Pakistan High Commissioner to Iftar parties.

"What kind of policy is this? Our Prime Minister has no knowledge of diplomacy. It is not a sound and light show. Foreign policy is done with a sense of maturity. Diplomacy is conducted in sober manner. But we see none of that in this government," he said.

The senior Congress leader also criticised Prime Minister Modi for paying visit to Lahore in December to attend the marriage of daughter of his Pakistani counterpart, saying during the UPA regime, prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh never went to Pakistan to celebrate weddings and birthdays.

"Till the time Pakistan didn't cooperate on 26/11, India under the UPA regime was not going to enter into agreement with Pakistan," he said.

"The product of the Modi Government's foreign policy is Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Pampore. That's the reality on the ground," he added.

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Saturday shrugged off the question on the attack and said that one should instead focus on the Iftar celebrations in the Pakistan High Commission.

"It's the month of Ramzaan, let's focus on this Iftar party. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed issue between India and Pakistan. It's an issue, which needs to be solved. We hope we will sit and discuss on the issue and find a solution. Let's have the Iftar party and enjoy ourselves," he told the media.

Saturday's attack was the fourth one on the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this month. At least 17 security personnel were killed and several others injured in the last three major strikes along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway during the period.

Officials say infiltration has dramatically gone up compared to the previous year with more than 50 terrorists crossing the border in the last five months. Last year, there was zero infiltration in the first four months.