M.M. Khajuria calls for realistic, effective policy towards Pak

Defence expert M.M. Khajuria on Sunday accused Pakistan of trying to create as many irritants as possible with regard to the relations between both sides and urged New Delhi to pursue a policy, which is in the interest of the nation and is realistic and effective.

Khajuria criticised Pakistan's move not to invite Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker, Kavinder Gupta to the upcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, saying the neighbouring nation's attitude has recently hardened.

"They have in pursuance of the harder attitude and misplaced confidence, denied invitation to the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, the assembly whose election has been welcomed and appreciated by the entire world and is one of the most democratic exercises under the Indian Constitution," Khajuria told ANI.

"It seems they are trying to create as many irritants as possible within Indo-Pak relations under the misconception that Indian goodness, Indian decency, Indian civilized behaviour is their weakness," he added.

He insisted that the government's decision not to participate in the CPU meeting is correct.

"Review over policy towards Pakistan and review of its latest positioning and mischief mongering, trouble creating on the borders, attacks within the Indian lands through the ISI agents and others. So, the entire gambit of negative initiatives that Pakistan has taken, they should be taken into account," Khajuria said.

"And we should now pursue a policy, which is in the interest of the nation and is a realistic, effective and something which the world would be able to appreciate," he added.

Special Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security, Sartaj Aziz, had said in Islamabad earlier that Kashmir was a disputed territory and Pakistan does not recognise its assembly.

Pakistan is hosting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from September 30 to October 8.

India has decided to boycott the meeting in Islamabad next month in protest against Pakistan not inviting the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.