No business with Pak until terrorism is eliminated: NCP

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday asked the BJP-led NDA Government to show seriousness with its policy towards Pakistan and said that there should not be any business with Islamabad until terrorism is totally cured and eliminated.

"What is important is action and intention, which unfortunately is not forthcoming from the other side particularly. We will have to be very firm and we should agitate and tell them that no business till terrorism is totally cured and eliminated from Indo-Pakistan areas," NCP leader Majeed Memon told ANI.

Memon further said that Pakistan has been encouraging and promoting terrorist activities due to which the people in India are suffering.

"Why should not the Modi Government first put up a condition with Nawaz Sharif that let's discuss terrorism first? Things like cricket and trade can be followed after that," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, another NCP leader Nawab Malik alleged that the policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government towards Pakistan has not been clear.

"The government must show seriousness with the policy towards Pakistan. We cannot change our neighbour but it depends on the government how to take the relationship. The way situation has worsened in the last few months, I think there is more politics and less seriousness in the policy towards Pakistan," he added.

India and Pakistan had yesterday announced the commencement of a "comprehensive" bilateral dialogue.

Addressing a joint press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We have decided to start a fresh and call the commencement of dialogue as comprehensive bilateral dialogue. It was earlier known as 'composite' dialogue, which later came to be known as 'resumed' dialogue."

Both nations agreed to discuss peace and security, Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism, narcotics control and humanitarian issues, people to people exchanges and religious tourism.