Congress slams 'insensitive' Basit, says 'meaningless to engage in talks with Pak'

Hitting out at Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit for his casual reaction on the deadly Pampore attack in which eight CRPF personnel were martyred, the Congress Party on Sunday said Islamabad needs to be sensitive to such developments.

"They have to be sensitive to such developments. We have a situation in Jammu and Kashmir which requires alertness. India has been a repeated victim of forces of terror and violence which has a well organised syndicate which operates from the soil of Pakistan," Congress leader Anand Sharma told ANI.

"Unless and until the Prime Minister and his government are fully assured that the entire establishment of Pakistan is supportive of peace process, it will be meaningless to engage in talks with them," he added.

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

"It's the month of Ramzaan, let's focus on this Iftaar 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 Iftaar 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.