CPI asks Khurshid to discuss LoC violations with Aziz

Communist party of India (CPI) leader D Raja on Tuesday said that the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid should take up the issue of frequent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Sartaj Aziz, and added that the two countries must engage in a meaningful dialogue process.

Khurshid is likely to meet Aziz, who is Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Foreign Affairs Adviser, on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers meeting at Gurgaon.

"There are a number of issues. The immediate issue the External Affairs Minister should touch is the violation of ceasefire agreement, frequent provocative incursions on the LoC, the activities of cross border terrorists, and the terror outfits which are using the Pakistan soil," he said.

"There are several long pending issues for which we have taken several confidence building measures. Both sides should expand and intensify the confidence building measures, and the dialogue process must go on. Both sides should engage in a meaningful dialogue,' he added.

Earlier on Monday, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari inaugurated the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which is being held for the first time in Gurgaon.

Khurshid chaired the meeting the theme of which this year is 'ASEM- Bridge to partnership for growth and development.'

"Under the agenda of ASEM, we are making excellent progress to emphasise result oriented initiatives by agreeing to work with like-minded ASEM members in the areas with potential for tangible cooperation," said Khurshid.

The dialogue forum between representatives of Asian and European countries is expected to discuss a wide gamut of issues between Asia and Europe and reinvigorate the platform to achieve tangible results in various fields.