Govt should emphasise on return of peace in Kashmir: Congress

In the backdrop of the deteriorating relationship between India and Pakistan, following the killing of 18 Indian army personnel by militants from across the border at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir recently, the Congress today said the government's "emphasis" should be on "restoring peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn Valley".
Curfew is in force for the last 75 days in the Valley and the government should make an effort to ensure that peace and normalcy returned there, AICC spokesman Ajoy Kumar said here.
"The Kashmir problem should be resolved within the framework of the Constitution to bring normalcy at the earliest," Kumar, a former parliamentarian, said.

Talking to reporters, he said he did not see any hope of normalcy returning soon in the Valley and demanded "stringent action" against "forces instigating violence".
Asked about the "strained" relationship between India and Pakistan, the Congress leader said the government should convince the world community to isolate the latter in every possible way, including on economic and diplomatic fronts.
"Pakistan should be cornered on all fronts, including economic and diplomatic. It is our problem and we would have to solve it. We should not expect countries such as the US and China to solve the problem for us," he said.

To a query on whether India should recall its diplomats from Pakistan in view of the growing tension between the two countries, Kumar said the government will have to take a call on it.

He, however, said India should convince the world community to impose sanctions on Pakistan unless they initiate stringent action against terrorists operating against India.
Kumar, however, held Prime Minister Narendra Modi "responsible" for the prevailing tension between the two neighbouring countries.
"The relationship between India and Pakistan had never reached such a stage between 2004 and 2014 when the UPA government was in power. But, the tall talks of Modi on Pakistan as well as the wrong foreign policy of the government are responsible for the current situation," he said.