Congress targets PM, asks Govt. to call off talks with Pak

Launching a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress Party on Monday asked the BJP-led NDA Government to call off the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan scheduled for later this month in wake of the terror attack on Pathankot's air base.

Congress leader Manish Tewari said Prime Minister Modi has to choose between the desire for a Noble Peace price and national security.

"Mr. Prime Minister are we waiting for another terror attack to take the obvious step. There is nothing that is going to be gained by engaging with Pakistan. This government should immediately call off the Foreign Secretary-level talks," Tewari told ANI here.

"Earlier when Vajpayee ji went to Lahore, Kargil happened. So, therefore, it very clearly demonstrates that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif controls nothing in Pakistan. The deep state in Pakistan doesn't want a proactive engagement with India. It doesn't want peaceful relationship with India. So, therefore, under those circumstances, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately call off the Foreign Secretary-level talks," he added.

The Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan scheduled for later this month looks in serious jeopardy with strong indications that the government may call off the engagement if evidence emerges that Pakistan's state actors were complicit in the attack on Pathankot's air base.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday held meetings with former Indian envoys to Pakistan to discuss the way forward with the neighbouring nation in wake of the Pathankot attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night reviewed the situation arising out of the terror attack at Pathankot's air base. Soon after his return from Karnataka last night, he chaired a meeting of top officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar.

According to sources, the implications of the attack on relations with Pakistan are also believed to have been deliberated upon in the meeting.

The security forces have already killed four terrorists. Two more terrorists are believed to be still holed-up inside the base and an operation is underway to flush them out.

Seven security personnel have been martyred in the operation so far.