India, Pak must engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue: D. Raja

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Wednesday said that India and Pakistan must trust each other and engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue.

"Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has gone to the U.S. His primary purpose is to address the U.N. General Assembly, which is going to review Millennium Development Goals. But at same time, the Prime Minister has an opportunity to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as U.S. President Barack Obama. So, as far as Pakistan is concerned, yes, this is an opportunity. India and Pakistan must reach out to each other, and try to build trust in our relationship," Raja said.

"As there have been ups and down in the relation between both countries, in such a situation, both countries must engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue. Both countries must continue to talk and uninterrupted talks must go on, that is what I strongly feel," he added.

Dr. Singh, in his departure statement released before embarking on a five-day visit to the United States, said he looks forward to bilateral meetings with leaders of some neighbouring countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

"During my visit to New York, I also look forward to bilateral meetings with the leaders of some of our neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan," he said.

Tension has been running high along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District since August 6 when five Indian soldiers were ambushed and killed by Pakistan's Specialist Forces.

After that incident and a series of ceasefire violations at the LoC, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had urged the Prime Minister not to hold talks with Sharif unless Pakistan demonstrated some commitment to ending attacks in India.