Parties disappointed over talks cancellation

Political parties on Sunday expressed disappointment over cancellation of India-Pakistan National Security Agency (NSA) talks, with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed hoping that the breakdown will be temporary even as the separatists accused government of India for the development.

Congress sought to fault the Narendra Modi government, saying it had played into the hands of Pakistan and given it an opportunity to wriggle out of a dialogue on terror, evoking a sharp reaction from Bharatiya Janata Party which rubbished the contention.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and leader of National Conference Farooq Abdullah blamed separatists for the cancellation of the talks.

Sayeed, while expressing disappointment, hoped that "the break in talks would be temporary" and the two countries will "re-engage soon in a meaningful dialogue".

Hoping that steps taken by India to remove impediments in normalization of relations will be reciprocated by Pakistan, he said he wants to see both the countries "walk the bridge of trust together".

In a veiled advice for Pakistan as well as separatists, he said, "It is neither warranted nor desirable to insist upon all-inclusive participation, directly or indirectly, in each and every bilateral meeting, like that between the two NSAs." Farooq Abdullah, while terming the cancellation of talks as unfortunate, said, "These self-claimed champions of Kashmiris (separatists) should have shown some courage and backed off themselves. What was the hurry? The Hurriyat and other separatists receive funds from Pakistan. Their viewpoint is already reflected by Pakistan.

"What point does it serve them to show their presence at reception? They could have easily avoided that." Abdullah's son and another former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing disappointment, said he expected this to happen going by last year's experience when India cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks over Hurriyat issue.

"(I am) very disappointed at the turn of events," he told PTI. He said he was worried about this from the time when Foreign Secretary level talks were cancelled last year on the same issue.

While this was expected seeing the turn of events, nevertheless that "doesn't make the sense of disappointment any less acute", he added