Govt. needs to clear its stand with Pakistan: Congress

The Congress Party on Friday asked the BJP-led NDA Government to clear its stand with Pakistan, adding that India should have a firm stand on the issue of terrorism when they share the table during the NSA meeting.

"I think our government needs to clear its stand with Pakistan because when the Prime Minister comes in 'election mode', he says that we will not have any talks with them till there is firing at the border. But today, we are having talks with our neighbours," Congress leader R.P.N. Singh told ANI.

"If we are having NSA level talks with them, then we should have a strong stand on the issues of Lakhvi and 26/11," he added.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, had earlier said that his nation will always help the people of Kashmir in their freedom struggle.

"Pakistan has always tried to maintain cordial relations with India," Basit said while speaking at the Pakistan High Commission on their Independence Day.

"And this point is also very clear that Pakistan will always help and take the side of the Kashmiris till they get their right. This kind of freedom struggle sometimes takes several years or even ages to be completed... Pakistan will always help the Kashmir people, who are fighting for their freedom," he added.

India is expected to place proof of Pakistan-backed terror at the upcoming NSA-level talks scheduled to take place on August 23-24.