Hold talks with stakeholders in J-K to solve dispute: CPI(M)

Diplomatic offensive against Pakistan cannot be "fully effective" until the Centre takes steps to end "suppression of democratic rights" of Kashmiri people, CPI(M) said today and urged the government to hold immediate talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to solve the dispute.
Noting that the Uri incident has occurred against the backdrop of mass uprising in Kashmir, the Left party suggested the government that the terror attack, which claimed lives of 18 Indian soldiers, cannot become "another pretext" for heightening "repression" in the Valley.
In the editorial of forthcoming issue of party mouthpiece 'People's Democracy', former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat asked the Centre to launch full-fledged diplomatic efforts and sustained political initiatives to highlight Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorist outfits on global stage.

"Any diplomatic offensive against Pakistan cannot be fully effective unless the Modi government takes immediate steps to end the use of lethal weapons like pellet guns and suppression of the democratic rights of the people in Kashmir.
"It should initiate a political process of talks with all shades of political opinion in the state without further delay," Karat said.
He also sought probe into how militants could cross the line of control (LoC) in Uri and penetrate a "heavily guarded" camp as he pitched for taking comprehensive measures to tackle threat posed by the infiltration of jihadi suicide squads.

"Maintaining strategic restraint, the focus should be on strengthening the security arrangements on the LoC and the international border with Pakistan to ensure that infiltration does not succeed," he said in this context.

The Marxist leader asked government to launch full-fledged attempt internationally to pressure Pakistan against "harbouring" terrorists.
Karat, however, suggested India's alleged growing proximity with the US has not benefited New Delhi as he noted that Washington condemned the Uri attack, but did not mention anything about Pakistan.
On the other hand, he added, Russia not only condemned the attack, but also acknowledged Indian claim that the terrorists came from across LoC from Pakistan.
"Russia which has been a trusted friend of India is embarking on its first joint military exercise with Pakistan later this month. This step has to be seen in the background of the burgeoning US-India alliance," he said, questioning India's alignment "with US strategic interests".