Modi's Pakistan policy shows flip-flops: CPI-M

The visit to Islamabad of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is welcome but "also underlines the flip-flops and the lack of consistency in Indian diplomacy", the CPI-M has said.

Both the visit and the earlier meeting of the two national security advisers in Bangkok "mark an abrupt reversal by the Modi government of its stand with regard to talks with Pakistan", it said.

Saying the Narendra Modi had taken a confrontationist stand earlier, an editorial in the party journal "People's Democracy" said the change "seems to be an about-turn".

"The fiasco of the Pakistan policy of the Modi government shows the perils of adopting the ultra-nationalist, national security approach of the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who seems to have had an inordinate role in formulating the confront Pakistan policy, with Modi's blessings," it said.

"The RSS and the BJP hardliners are, no doubt, unhappy with this new turn in policy. But the Modi government should have hopefully learnt lessons from this dismal chapter of diplomacy with Pakistan."