PM Modi's remark on Pak absolutely on the mark: Sudheendra Kulkarni

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the multiple power centres in Pakistan made it difficult to draw a "lakshman rekha" for talks with Islamabad, Sudheendra Kulkarni on Tuesday said the 'dichotomy'of power has held back the talks.

"Prime Minister's comment on Pakistan are absolutely on the mark because there is certainly a power dichotomy between the civilian government and the military rulers in Pakistan," Kulkarni told ANI.

"Therefore, the question is there is no one single power in Islamabad, with which India can have a dialogue," he added.

He further said the situation in Pakistan has been intensified with the ill health of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had to undergo a surgery recently.

He said Prime Minister Modi "has done the right thing by giving a detailed interview perhaps for the first time on a number of major issues before the nation and society".

Prime Minister Modi in an interview wondered with whom in Pakistan red lines can be drawn for conducting talks - with the elected government or "other actors".

"The first thing is that with whom in Pakistan will you decide the 'lakshman rekha' -- with the elected government or with other actors? So India will have to be alert and conscious all the time. There should not be any laxity and negligence," Modi said in an interview with a TV news channel.